Desafio Ruta 40: prologue with unique support

The key round for the final results of the cross-country World Cup began at San Juan. Rafał Sonik was the third competitor among the riders registered for the FIM series. Kees Koolen was the first to appear at the finish line, who drives probably the best and the most powerful quad among all competitors.

‘We have done reconnaissance with my team and this prologue will be simply perfect for Koolen. The route is hard and relatively flat, and he clearly has the fastest quad. I have to drive very smoothly to lose as little time against him as possible,’ said Rafał Sonik before the the race began. And he was right, as it turned out.

While it was Nico Cavigliaso (Argentina) who was the fastest at the special stage of less than five and a half kilometres altogether, it was Kees Koolen who was first among the quad riders who compete for the World Cup points. The same time was achieved by the winner of the third place at the last Dakar Rally, Pablo Copetti, and the Polish quad rider was three seconds behind them.

‘This is only the warm-up, because I’m very excited because the routes that are waiting for us in Argentina will be truly challenging. They require both navigation skills and driving technique, endurance, and good management of your strength. This is what I like; the more difficult a rally is, the better it is for me,’ said the defender of the World Cup title.

During the prologue and the start ceremony at San Juan, Rafał Sonik’s team had a special guest. The only Polish competitor in Desafio Ruta 40 was cheered for by Ambassador Marek Pernal. ‘We met earlier in Buenos Aires. It was a true honour for me to unfurl the white&red flag at the starting ramp together with him,’ said Sonik, who will meet the Ambassador again shortly after the race. The meeting will be held on the occasion of the exhibition entitled “Poland and Polish people versus independent Argentina 1816-2016”, which will be opened on 1 September in the rooms of the Senate of the Republic of Argentina.

Over the next five days, Rafał Sonik will be focused on competing in the “small Dakar Rally”. On Saturday, the caravan will drive from San Juan to Villa Union. The first actual special stage will be a difficult test of as many as 337 kilometres.

Results of the prologue
1. Kees Koolen (NLD) 4.05
-. Pablo Copetti (ARG) +0.00
3. Sonik (POL) +0.03
4. Rodolfo Guillioli (GUA) +0.10
5. Lucas Innocente (ARG) +0.12
6. Hernandez (PER) +0.17
7. Carlos Jofre (ARG) +0.27
8. Nicolas Robledo (ARG) +0.43