Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles

We have reached that legendary day of the race: the dunes of Merzouga. Whether yearned for or feared, this moment is a unique experience for every Gazelle. The girls have three routes to choose from, according to their experience and their vehicle's capacity. One circuit leads around the dunes for the crossovers and those teams that do not feel up to tackling the sand. There are two possible routes through the erg: the "X" route, the more difficult, that will take the Gazelles over the highest peaks of Merzouga, and a medium route, the "X bis" route, more accessible. Some fifteen vehicles choose the easy route; the rest head into the dunes. The conditions are ideal: after yesterday's rain, the sand is firmer and the driving easier. The first teams cross crest after crest, reaching CP5X at 10:30. Then the group spreads out. As the sun approaches its zenith the sand loosens up, the mercury rises and the dunes are transformed into a hot hell. Dream or a nightmare, this leg is certainly unforgettable.


ACTEMIUM / Banque CIC 101
Catherine HOULES and Mélanie SUCHET in an ISUZU D-MAX
After scaring themselves during a big jump on a dune upon arriving at CP2X, the Actemium Gazelles lead the pack all the way through the dunes. They are in 6th place in the General Ranking and 3rd in the Brink's Challenge.

ALVERGNAS AUTOMOBILES / RABOBANK 103
Angélique ALVERGNAS and Sidonie DUBRULE in a TOYOTA KDJ 120
3rd in the general ranking, too many points behind the second team to catch them up, the Gazelles are in a good position to win the Brink's Challenge like last year!

MAISONS FAMILIALES / SOCIETE GENERALE 118
Anne-France MOISAND and Karine DENOIS RACT GRAS in a TOYOTA HDJ 100
For their first experience in the dunes, the Gazelles score, getting all of the X CPs and going right to the last CP. "It's a mix of stress and excitement, a really gruelling leg for us," explain the girls, "We're terrified of getting stuck, but we're getting over it...".

GREENTECH / CREDIT MUTUEL 120
Delphine BICHOFFE and Christine HUNKA in a LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER
When we say that a Gazelle can do anything, it's true... The girls of Team 120 suffered from the heat all day in the dunes of Merzouga, and for good reason: they drove all the way to CP6 with the car's heat cranked to maximum!
When it comes to humanitarian aid, these competitors are not joking around. One of their sponsors, OEMEE, manufacturer of bras for women who have undergone a mastectomy, was unable to donate money; instead they are providing one bra per CP that the girls reach. The bras will be distributed in Morocco by AMDAM.

Nos Gazelles des Sancerre / Banque CIC BRO 125
Claudine AMAT and Catherine CORBEAU-MELLOT in a LAND ROVER DISCOVERY
This is Catherine's first experience in the dunes, and she is very nervous throughout the course despite the experience of her pilot. However, she is proud to complete the most difficult route and tries to enjoy the scenery. A wine producer from Sancerre, Catherine, who hasn't completely lost her bearings in Merzouga, takes a photo at CP2X with a bottle of her wine. 

CRCAM TOULOUSE / AUDIT COURTAGE 154
Patricia TICHADOU and Marie-Christine FERRER in a TOYOTA HDJ 80
The girls have a bit of a fright after a hard landing over a dune: the Iritrack assistance telephone rings in the car... a medical assistance alert was triggered by the shock. the helicopter is on the point of taking off with a doctor on board... imagine the girls' surprise!

CCI de Sète / SOCIETE GENERALE 161
Caroline PERECZ and Stéphanie GRANET-MONTEIRO in a TOYOTA KZJ 90
Barely arrived in the dunes, our police officers help a team out of the sand twice. They then hesitate between the X and the Xbis, and finally decide to tackle the more difficult course. After a hard leg yesterday, the Gazelles mistakenly headed for the Algerian border, where fortunately they were stopped by the military.

BMCE Capital Bank 165
Syndiely WADE and Jade HANDI in a NISSAN NAVARRA
More problems today for Syndiely and Jade, after running out of gas on the prologue and getting stuck in a oued on leg 1. The girls only reached the bivouac this morning after the briefing. They head for the dunes of Merzouga, get their road book and ask some other Gazelles for some information: they choose the Xbis course thinking that it is the more difficult course, and therefore worth the most points... what a disappointment when they realize their mistake...

BODET EMO / C2C 166
Sarah BREBION and Krystèle BODET in a NISSAN TERRANO II
They reach CP4X in tears... On edge, they still managed to get this far, not bad for novices! After heading into the dunes alone, they soon form a convoy with other teams in order to help each other out. 

EXCO / AGF 167
Sophie France DE L'EPINE GASTINE and Isabelle DE L'EPINE in a LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 "We didn't get stuck once!", exclaims Sophie proudly. It's true that even the best Gazelles get out their shovels and sand ladders in the dunes. The two sisters are having a great time and are making progress every day. They are 11th in the general ranking going into the first marathon leg.

ACCUEIL IMMO / CIC 199
Ida CALMON and Florence CAZANOBE in a TOYOTA KDJ 120
First participation for these two Gazelles who are really playing the Rallye game. They choose the X route, help other teams whenever they can and have developed a hand signal communication system between pilot and navigator, who is often out scouting the dunes.  

AUTOMATISME ET EXPLOITATION DES ENERGIES/ CREDIT MUTUEL 203
Florence SIGNORETTO and Vanessa CHAILLOT in a TOYOTA HILUX
Having problems navigating right from the beginning, last night the Gazelles had a topography course with Chris Mayne, another Gazelle. Today they still took too long to find CP1 and at 12:30 it was too late to go into the dunes, as the sand was too soft. They went back to the bivouac.