Dakar 2018: Wiśniewski conquers Fiambala

The Dakar Rally arrived in Fiambala. For many racers, this infamous land is like a red rag to a bull. It’s an off-road hell on earth, ultimate Tartarus. The desert here is ugly and treacherous, and riding in the scorching heat is a dreadful ordeal. None of it frightened Kamil Wiśniewski who finished the 11th stage with an excellent 8th time and secured a higher position in the general standings again.

The marathon stage kicked off for motorbikes and quads on Wednesday. After 280 kilometers of the SS, the riders along and their machines were separated from any outside support at the bivouac. Moreover, the bivouac was set up in Fiambala, which is probably the place the Dakar racers despise the most.

Kamil Wiśniewski made no complaints about the landscape or the challenging, grassy desert, but the struggle against heat was real. “The temperature was very high and right after the start the fuel began to boil. I had to slow down considerably but I worked on gaining more speed whenever possible, and managed to keep a steady tempo every now and then”, reported the rider.

Despite the difficulties, the Polish contestant obtained an excellent 8th result. What’s more, the only damage his quad suffered was a punctured tire. “I noticed I had a flat tire right after I finished the SS. I inserted a couple plugs, pumped it, and that was it. Everything is fine on a technical level and I’m feeling pretty good myself”, admitted Wiśniewski awaiting his well-deserved rest.

Ignacio Casale maintains his leading position in the quad category. The Chilean has sufficient advantage over two Argentinians: Nicolas Cavigliasso, and
Jeremias Gonzalez Ferioli. Kamil Wiśniewski climbed to the 12th place, remaining the leader of the 4×4 quad class.

Stage 11 results
1. Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) 5:20.45
2. Ignacio Casale (CHL) +15.14
3. Dmitrij Sziłow (KAZ) +34.49
…
8. Kamil Wiśniewski (POL) +55.54

General standings
1. Ignacio Casale (CHL) 46:04.20
2. Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) +1:34.12
3. Jeremias Gonzalez Ferioli (ARG) +2:09.15
….
12. Kamil Wiśniewski (POL) +10:31.26