Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles

Video of Leg 5

Vidéo Gazelles 2010 ETAPE05
sent by Rallye-Aicha-des-Gazelles.

A dreamlike atmosphere in the Moroccan desert

"Yesterday the features were erased from the map, today the features are erased from the landscape", remarks Corentine Quiniou (Team 138 - Toyota France) upon her arrival at CP3. The thick mist enveloping the landscape is making navigating more challenging...

The Rallye in the New York Times

Read about the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles in the New York Times of March 21st, 2010:
Click here for article

Update: Logica Eco-Driving Challenge!

After Leg 4, two teams are tied for the lead in the Logica Eco-Driving Challenge, with a score of 7.88 out of 10 for the most environmentally-friendly driving style: Team 188 – Les Belles Façades (Alexandra Lavarelo and Nathalie Paillard) driving a Mitsubishi L200 and Team 134 - Etrib (Sylvie Denninger and Florence Bouchard) in a Jeep Wrangler. Not far behind in third place, Canadian Team 100 - Dr Pierre Boucher (Josée Roberge and Julie Vivier) with a score 7.87. Consult the  Eco-Driving Challenge results on the Logica website.

News flash: Team 146 is back!

Stuck in Erfoud since the marathon leg, when they experienced major engine trouble, Team 146 (Caroline MOULENE and Aurore CARON - Sevacreme) have reached the bivouac. After waiting for spare parts that ended up being sent by taxi from Marrakech, Caroline and Aurore are back, thrilled to rediscover the ambiance of the bivouac and to hit the trails again tomorrow morning!

News flash : new bivouac set up near Mhamid

After this long day, the competitors return to the comfort of the bivouac, set up near Mhamid today. A surprise awaits our Gazelles: the dining tent has been decorated with... Caïdal tents! A cozy evening before tomorrow's challenge... the second Marathon leg!

News flash: CP7 changes place...

Heavy rains in the Atlas Mountains have caused the Oued Draa to flood its banks, forcing the Sporting Management to modify the location of CP7

News flash : sandstorm in the desert

You don't know the desert until you have been through a real sandstorm. Since midday, visibility is reduced and a fine layer of sand has been deposited in every nook and cranny. The landscapes have a different look about them, in a strangely surreal atmosphere amplified by the movement of the sand along the ground, almost as if the latter was giving way under our tires...
An interesting exercise for those who have never experienced a sandstorm before. But not much longer: the weather is forecast to improve considerably during the night.

The rankings on standby

Because of a computer bug beyond our control, the rankings for Leg 4 will remain provisory for the time being and the final rankings will not yet be announced. To remove any possible doubt, the results for Leg 3 will be verified and possibly modified.

Leg 5 : Morning briefing

This morning the bivouac is crawling with activity. Everywhere you look, bags are being packed, tents are being taken down, and people are running to be on time for the 5 o'clock briefing. "Bravo for yesterday's leg" are the first words from the event's Sporting Director, Jean-Pierre Berthet. Once the sporting information for the day's leg has been communicated, Dominique Serra takes the microphone to share the latest news about the teams that have been having mechanical problems: the engine of Quebec Team 103 (Manon Robinson and Martine Coulombe - Intact Assurance) cannot be fixed at the bivouac. However, Manon and Martine will be present at the ceremonial finish in Essaouira.
On the other hand, good news for quad team 20 (Lyne Ouellon and Gaétane Boudreau - Nathalie Normandeau), whose vehicle was in a pitiful state yesterday: the mechanics worked through the night to give the quad a second life.