After five days, and the longest special of the Dakar 2022, Joan Lascorz is running tenth in the overall SSV T4 standings.
Facing the 465 kilometre special and a liaison of 242 kilometres, stage four’s mammoth challenge saw Lascorz face a variety of terrain, from sandy tracks and dunes to the final section incorporating dry river beds or ‘wadis’ of hard and stony soil in his modified #447 buggy.
The Spaniard and his co-driver Miguel Puertas, maintained their position between 10th and 15th as the arduous journey began, and while fatigue took its toll the ex-WorldSBK rider used the mandatory 15 minutes of neutralisation to refuel and recover.
After more than five hours at the wheel and firmly after dark, Lascorz crossed the finish line 14th, 37 minutes and 37 seconds behind the stage winner. His consistency - with four top 15 finishes secured so far - leaves Lascorz in the top ten for the SSV T4 category out of a total of 44 runners.
“Another day that we finished,” Lascorz said from Riyadh. "I have taken it very calmly because it was a very long day. We didn't make any mistakes, but the problem was that night fell on us and we couldn't keep up. When the sun starts to go down, the light hits you straight ahead and at night you can't go as fast anymore; there we lost some time.
“The car is full of mud, the mud was falling on the windshield and we did not have water for the wipers and we had to stop to pour it with a bottle, clean and then we could not go fast ... but hey, we are here. We have endured a stage as long as today; I think it is important. Tomorrow there is a similar one.
“We are P10 in the overall classification, but I would like to be top 10 in a stage, just to start in front. It will be difficult because with such long stages, arriving at night, it is impossible to go full throttle because you do not know what is coming and the headlights are weak. Maybe when we face a short stage, we would be able to go flat out, until then it will be hard.
“Physically, today the first half of the stage went well, then I had a physical slump, but we did a refuelling stop and in the final part I felt good. It was a small one. It was cold, but less than other days; we go down to the south and it already changes. Tomorrow long stage again... let’s go!”
