Atacama Rally: furious Sonik leaves his rivals behind

The Chilean fans finally got what they have been so impatiently waiting for for the past few weeks during the longest stage of the Atacama Rally – a duel of Rafał Sonik and Ignacio Casale. ‘My knee was acting up, but felt this sport-like fury at the start-line and in pushed on. Apart from Ignacio, who is far beyond anyone’s reach in his homeland, I overtook all competitors from the World Cup series,’ said Sonik.

That was one of those stages that Rafał Sonik likes best. A large distance (375 km), routes with technically difficult and numerous uphill sections and steep downhill sections, and challenging navigation. It is justified to compare this rally with the Dakar Rally, in particular as the legendary race drove through these routes multiple times, reaching the bivouac situated at the coast of the Pacific Ocean, at the foot of huge mountains of sand.

‘Today’s downhill ride from a huge dune to Iquique reminded me the old times in South America. Even the bivouac, situated in the same place, looked as if the Dakar Rally’s caravan was there only yesterday,’ said the defender of the World Cup title.

Before the competitors reached this unique place, they fought tooth and nail in the driest part of the Atacama desert. ‘I got mad. and when I’m mad, I usually drive much better. And this is exactly what happened today, as I said to myself: “that’s it, now it’s my turn to overtake them”. Even Ignacio felt my breath on his back,’ said Rafał Sonik, who managed to ignore the pain and keep up the pace for which he is loved by his fans.

The general classification of the rally remains the same, but the only Polish competitor in the Atacama Rally has made up for his losses to Alexis Hernandez, who is now on the third position. ‘The last special stage is less than 160 km long, so it will be difficult to gain a lot. The most important thing is that I will still be in the running for the World Cup, and the slight differences in the number of points are a promise of a very exciting season finish,’ he ended.

On Friday, the riders will only face a loop around Iquique and a finish ceremony. There won’t be a lot of time to rest, because in a week Desafio Ruta 40 begins in Argentina’s San Juan – the second to last round in this year’s fight for the primacy on the quad scene.

Results of the fourth stage:
1. Ignacio Casale (CHL) 05:02.54

2. Rafał Sonik (POL) +5.58
3. Kees Koolen (NLD) +10.20
4. Rodolfo Guillioli (GUA) +10.25
5. Luis Barahona (CHL) +29.23
6. Alexis Hernandez (PER) +33.39

General classification:

1. Ignacio Casale (CHL) 14:40.16
2. Kees Koolen (NLD) +29.43
3. Alexis Hernandez (PER) +53.02
4. Rafał Sonik (POL) +1:22.05
5. Rodolfo Guillioli (GUA) +1:34.47