Rui Gonçalves 5th and Lorenzo Santolino 8th in Stage 4!

Following Lorenzo Santolino’s spectacular victory yesterday, Rui Gonçalves delivered an impressive performance today by finishing 5th in the stage from Al Henakiyah to Alula. Lorenzo secured 8th place, once again proving he belongs among the global elite of Rally Raid riders.

Today's stage covered a total of 588 km, including 415 km of challenging special stages. The rocky terrain caused issues for many competitors.

After yesterday’s win, Lorenzo Santolino was tasked with leading the pack, navigating a strategic route while tackling the challenges of a malfunctioning navigation tablet. New this year, all Rally GP competitors are required to use digital tablets provided by the organization. Lorenzo received a replacement at the refueling point, but it also had issues, which meant he had to rely on others for guidance at times. He is expected to receive a functional tablet tonight.

Rui Gonçalves, with the 5th fastest time today, managed his race well. He found his rhythm early and effectively managed his physical endurance, which was crucial during this marathon stage.

Lorenzo Santolino:

“Yesterday was an amazing day with the stage win. It was a very special stage for me. From the start, in the rocky sections, I had a great feeling with the bike and navigation. I caught up with Canet and Quintanilla by kilometer 80. At the refueling point, I saw I was in a strong position and decided to push hard for a good result. I gave it my all, following Quinta in the fast section, which helped me keep up the pace. In the more technical part, I took the lead and pushed until the end to secure the victory. Everything went perfectly, and I'm thrilled for myself, my family, my partners, and Sherco.

Today, I started first, which is always tough since winning the previous stage means leading the way. Early on, I had problems with my navigation tablet—it froze, and I couldn't change notes. I had to stop and wait for Ricky Brabec to catch up. We rode together, and he did a great job. At the neutralization point, the organizers gave me a new tablet, but it also malfunctioned. I ended up riding with a second group that included Quinta, Benavides, and Svitko. It was impossible to navigate alone with the tablet issues. Considering the circumstances, it was a solid result today, even though the stress of not knowing where to go in the middle of the desert made it very challenging.”

Rui Gonçalves:

“Yesterday, I started far back, and with the dust announced for the stage, it was hard to find a rhythm. I stayed patient, navigated well, and finished 15th, which was good for today's starting position. I felt great on the bike and recovered well overnight for today's marathon stage.

Today went really well. The terrain was varied, with a lot of rocks and some sand as well. I found a good pace early, starting in 15th, and quickly caught up with Sanders and Schareina. We rode together for much of the stage. I stayed consistent throughout and focused on conserving my energy and the bike, knowing there's no assistance tonight. Finishing in the top 5 is a fantastic result, and I'm very happy with the day!”

Provisional General Classification:

• Lorenzo Santolino: 10th
• Rui Gonçalves: 16th

Tonight, the riders of the Serco Rally Factory Team are without assistance and they prepare for tomorrow's stage: a 492 km journey from Alula to Hail, including 428 km of special stage.