\u2018I won the last stage by a few minutes, but it wasn\u2019t enough to catch up with Ignacio. At night, the mechanics had to replace the engine, and it meant a penalty of 15 minutes. I\u2019m happy, however, because the points for the second place helped me keep the first place in the general World Cup classification,\u2019 said Rafa\u0142 Sonik at the finish line of the Sealine Cross-Country Rally.<\/p>\n
In the evening, before the last stage of the Qatar Rally, he received a call from his service team. The quad engine had to be replaced. \u2018I have no idea how Rafa\u0142 reached the finish line with the shaft in the engine bent like that. It\u2019s a miracle. I\u2019ve never seen anything like it,\u2019 commented Jaros\u0142aw Zaj\u0105c, who is responsible for getting the quad ready for racing. <\/p>\n
That was not the end, however. The mechanics were concerned about the replaced engine, too, so Rafa\u0142 went off into the last special stage with the knowledge that he might be driving a ticking bomb. Luckily, the engine survived and after covering 350 km, SuperSonik arrived at the finish line three minutes before Ignacio Casale. <\/p>\n
\u2018I caught up with Ignacio pretty fast, but I found it difficult to lose him. Once again the grassy dunes were a nightmare. The last parts of the stage really wore me out. The heat was unbearable and only the last 20 km along the sea coast served as a breather,\u2019 said Sonik about the last day of the rally. <\/p>\n
Rafa\u0142 Sonik took part in Sealine Cross-Country Rally for the fifth time. He won it three times, and this year\u2019s second place is the second one. \u2018Every time that I go on a rally I want to win it, so I\u2019m not really satisfied. The technical problems on the second day, followed by the accident of my team partner, Julian Villarubia \u2013 and I lost the rhythm. The competition with Ignacio was very fierce, and I wish it could\u2019ve lasted a few more days. Anyways, we\u2019ll meet soon, at the beginning of June during the Sardegna Rally,\u2019 ended Sonik.<\/p>\n
Rafa\u0142 Sonik remained the leader of the World Cup. Ignacio Casale is seven points behind. At the end of the Qatar Rally, next to the cup for the second place, Rafa\u0142 Sonik accepted the trophy for the best old-timer, too.<\/p>\n
World Cup Classification:<\/p>\n
1. Rafa\u0142 Sonik (POL) 51 points
\n2. Ignacio Casale (CHL) 44 points
\n3. Camelia Liparoti (ITA) 23 points<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018I won the last stage by a few minutes, but it wasn\u2019t enough to catch up with Ignacio. At night, the mechanics had to replace the engine, and it meant a penalty of 15 minutes. I\u2019m happy, however, because the points for the second place helped me keep the first place in the general World […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n