Toyota Gazoo Racing perform miracles in the desert!
Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz had a rally-ending incident yesterday. Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Principal Glyn Hall tells the story.
“Seth and Dennis fortunes changed dramatically today (Tuesday, stage four) after they hit a rock embedded in Mother Earth. The chassis was bent and soon after the engine mounting broke because the chassis was 15mm wider that it should be following the damage.
Shortly after, the engine was moving around breaking an oil fitting in the process.
The pair were second fastest till that point.
The team are hard at work repairing the chassis and fitting a replacement engine as the cylinder block was damaged by the broken mounting: a 20hr penalty will be applied.
If we get the chassis straight enough Seth will continue in the race gaining valuable experience and hopefully some world championship points if he can finish in the top 5 each day.
The following update was received at 6.30am Wednesday: The team did a great job on Seth and Dennis’ car rebuild, finishing at 6:30 this morning (Wednesday) – chassis is fixed, engine changed. The chassis alignment is not 100% but good enough for a top 5 placing in my opinion. Today there will be a 20hr penalty added for the engine change but it should not affect the seeding for the 48hr chrono stage.”
Today’s fifth stage from Al-Hofuf to Shubaytah is the shortest of the rally at just 118km; however, it comprises 100% dunes in Saudi Arabia’s Empty Quarter and includes a 45km stretch of soft dunes. To get to the stage though, there is a 508km road section.
It’s going to be another long, tough day…
