Desert Dance and Dusty Dramas: Moraes and Monleon’s Maiden Marvel at Dakar 2024

In a turn of events that could twist the knickers of a camel, Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon have zoomed to a maiden stage victory, steering their Toyota Gazoo Racing team’s campaign into the limelight. Their steed, the GR Hilux EVO T1U, proved to be more than just a pretty face in the desert, navigating the dunes and dust from Al Duwadimi to Al Salamiya like a Bedouin on a homecoming tour.

The dynamic duo clinched the stage win by a whisker – just 9 seconds ahead of their closest rivals. Covering a grueling 437 kilometers, their performance wasn’t just about speed; it was a ballet of precision navigation and puncture avoidance, elevating them to 4th overall. Moraes and Monleon, however, aren’t just about speed and dust; they showed a heartwarming display of camaraderie by lending a spare tyre to fellow teammates Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz. This act of kindness in the cruel desert may have cost them some precious seconds, but fortune favors the brave and the kind, it seems.

Meanwhile, the rally threw a couple of prickly punches at Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy. Two early punctures turned their race into more of a scenic dune tour, eventually clocking in at 16th. Puncture woes seemed to be the theme of the day, as Quintero and Zenz also fell victim to the treacherous terrain, finishing 17th.

Let’s not forget TGR’s young gun Saood Variawa and his co-pilot Francois Cazalet. Starting 40th, they zigzagged through the field, dodging slower cars and navigational hiccups to finish a respectable 21st. On the flip side, Guy Botterill and Brett Cummings had a day that could be politely described as ‘trying.’ A trinity of punctures meant they were less racing and more… well, surviving, landing them at 32nd.

Stage 3 also marked the beginning of a ‘mini-Marathon’ stage, where the crews were left to their own devices at a remote bivouac, sans the comforting hands of their technical teams. The next stage promises a mix of liaisons and dirt tracks, with a dash of dunes to keep things interesting.

In the words of the wise and weary racers: Lucas Moraes expressed his disbelief and gratitude, emphasizing the navigational wizardry of Monleon. Seth Quintero lamented his rubber woes, hoping for better luck ahead. Guy Botterill narrated his tale of survival, while Giniel de Villiers shared his frustration over the puncture party. Saood Variawa recounted his adventures in overtaking and the tricky waypoints that played hide and seek.

In the grand scheme of things, the Dakar 2024 is shaping up to be a rollercoaster of emotions, a test of skill, and a showcase of human resilience and camaraderie. As the engines cool down and the stars take over the desert sky, one can only wonder what the next stage will bring. Dust, glory, or maybe a bit of both!

DAKAR 2024 – STAGE 3 RESULTS

DAKAR 2024 – STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 3

The post Desert Dance and Dusty Dramas: Moraes and Monleon’s Maiden Marvel at Dakar 2024 first appeared on Fuelled.