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ETAP8 08/10
“The Drama on the Final Stage”
All of the rallyists marched off to Ulanbaatar. In the morning of the final day, there was a great deal of tension at the starting
point of the 50-km long SS. In the AUTO Class, the top had just only three minutes lead over the second. Will #111 win? Or will Ikuo Hanawa come from
behind to win at the end?
Most of us thought Hanawa would win because of his long
experience as a rallyist. Just before the start of the final stage after over 35-hour battle, the gap of time records between them was just 3 seconds. It’s really amazing.
Hanawa started a minute after #111, suddenly stopped to open the bonnet. It was all over. The winner was decided. The air intake of his car
caught water from paddles which were made around on the piste due to this year’s specific rain, and the engine had water hammer. This problem had forced him to
decide whether he gave up the rally. He managed to enter into the last control zone with the engine drive, but couldn’t hope to win for the second straight
year any more.
In this rally, young Mongolian drivers have achieved strong
growth. Kenjiro Shinozuka driving the Camion watched the champion’s red
Evolution calmly.
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