The first competitors left the Alxa Left bivouac early this morning when it was still dark to tackle a stage designed in pure Dakar style. Length, demanding terrain, challenge and tricky navigation were all the ingredients wisely mixed by the Organizers to give the Chinese competitors an authentic Dakar experience. 

The first difficulties of this about 600 km long stage in the Badan Jalan Desert came already in the beginning with lot of sand dunes and demanding navigations.

The second part was fastest and featured roads and off-roads in dry rivers bed. Today’s special stage should have been the longest stage of the rally, but it was reduced to 233 km due to the extreme conditions of the terrain. 

T1 Group 

It was a hard day for the local Mongolian hero Aorigele and his co-driver Qin Xu, winner of the first two stages. The Knight Super Player Club's driver opened the track and was driving with a good pace when he had to slow down at km 35 in order to find a difficult way point.

He was joined by Giniel de Villiers (Toyota Gazoo racing South Africa) and Han Wei (Geely Wheels team), the reference for Cross Country Rally in China, who was looking forward to the rutted paths of this stage which suited his SMG buggy

In the end, it was #117 ZI Yungang and his co-driver Wang Zengrong from SMG Hanwei Team to win the stage with a crono of 3h30m3s. Started 15^th, ZI Yungang took advantage of the traces to set his best performance so far ahead of #109 Chen Feng–Wang Yicheng on a Toyota Hilux, second at + 7min11s and now leading the FIA class. Third at +10m36s #119 Wei Hongjie–Guo Jun (Keepower Optimus). 

“I am happy we didn’t expect to have such a decent result” said ZI Yungang–Shanxi Yunxiang SMG Buggy.

“I like to drive in the desert. I was 15^th on the road and by the end I passed the first car, so today we were good and worked well together”

Han Wei was the first to cross the finish line and finally finished 6^th, 20min24s from the top. “This stage was difficult we got lost after a few kilometres, we couldn’t find the check point so we kept looking, we stopped and tried to check with the map but we still couldn’t find it. Eventually we found it and I realised there were no cars in front of us so I was the first car to the end”, said Wei.

The 2009 Dakar winner #111 Giniel De Villiers on his Toyota Hilux started really motivated by the challenge of the Chinese unknown dunes with their aggressive peaks and steep drops. He also lost time for a navigation issue and finished 10^th at +30min, with Aorigele 17th +40min 34s. 

“It’s as good as anything I have done before and as tough”, stated De Villiers at the end of the stage. 

Lined up in the T1 group, #136 Meng Yan (Wuwujingang Nissan Patrol) didn’t pass unnoticed as she is the only woman in the race. Wuwu is 38 years old and a real passionate one. She’s been rallying for the last 4 years and took part in 6 big races in China, but this one is the biggest and the most prestigious

 “I have many victories in female rallies but my dream is to take part, one day, in the Dakar. Being here for the Dakar series China Rally is my first step to reach my dream” said Wuwu, 29^th today.

T2 group 

The dunes and the terrain was a real challenge for the T2 vehicles that are mostly 2 tonnes including the extra roll bar and safety equipment. They don’t have the suspension of the prototypes it means freeing them is even harder. 

The fastest of the T2 group today was #202 Wuritunasheng–Jia Xiaowei with 4h40m15s, followed by #205 He Xudong–Ma Li  and #209 Zhang Jianfeng–Wu Xiaoguang.

T3 group 

The Side by Side vehicles enjoyed a lot the first part of the route on the dunes of the Badan Jalan Desert where they could use all the potential of their vehicles.

 #313 Zhong Lei–Li Gang was the fastest driver of his class on a Polaris RZR1000, followed by #320 Zhang Qiang–Peng Yibo on a Yamaha YZF1000 and Li Dongsheng–Huo  Mingxin  (Polaris RXR000). 

Open Group 

Superb day for #319 Su Baoheng–Tian Lei (Suzhou Buggy) who finished 11^th overall, just behind the 2009 Dakar winner and set the fastest time in the open category (4h00m43s).

Second of the Open was  #303 Li Jinming–Jiyatu (xiongfeng Buggy). Third #135 Li Jianguo–Li Jianbin (feiwo Fervor).

It was a pity for # 302 Jin Jing - Liqui Moly Buggy, who was doing really well as a rookie leading the Open class, but today he lost his class lead with transmission issues.

Tomorrow the competitors will take the start of the 4^th stage from the Alxa Right bivouac, a loop 90% in sandy Off Road modality that offers some hard dunes crossing and sandy valleys.

Stage 1 wad a warm up, 57kms with no liaison and a chance to test the car within the FB Park.

24^th September 2017, the Dakar Series China Rally launched its first stage of the competition, which was 57km in length, full of a number of dunes and challenges.

Up to now, the super driver from the knight team, Aorigele (CHN), has come in the first place with 1 hour 12 minutes and 4 seconds, followed by the driver from Toyota Gazoo South Africa Giniel de Villiers (RSA) in the second place. Han Wei (CHN) from Geely team, and Zhang Huijun from T3 Army Ant E team came in the fifth and the fourth places respectively.

T1 Group 

Aorigele, the driver from local Alxa with his team navigator, Qin Xu, driving Nissan VK50 No. 121, have done very well in the first stage with 1 hour 12 minutes and 4 seconds, placing him in the first place so far. Giniel De Villiers from Toyota Gazoo South Africa  racing team along with his navigator, Dirk von Zitzewitz, are in the second place so far by 13 seconds late driving Toyota Hilux.

The driver, Han Wei  from Geely Wheels team along with his navigator, Liao Min in an SMG Buggy came in the third place in the group and as a whole with 1 hour 14 minutes and 56 seconds.

Aorigele said: “The performance today was not bad but the middle part wasn’t that good. This was my fourth rally collaborating with the navigator so we did quite well. Every weekend I used to drive my own car in these dunes so it’s a lot of fun to know dunes so well".

Han Wei said: “Today’s 57 km appetiser was a piece of cake but we ran very happily. The track was quite challenging and we were ahead of everyone else, so we had some difficulties."

"Therefore, today we ran very smoothly and everything was more perfect than before. Neither of us made any mistakes. The road today was more complex and leading on the track would definitely be affected, so there were some troublesome sections."

Giniel de Villiers said “Its great to be here, its going to be great to race here, Its going to be good preperation, to test the car in the dunes which will be very good for the Dakar.”

T2 Group 

The championship in this group was taken by the legend, He Xudong, from the Jiangxi Isuzu team and his navigator, driving car No. 205 with 2 hours 15 minutes and 4 seconds. With his newbie navigator Jia Xiaobei driving No. 202, the driver from the Zhengzhou Nissan team Uday took the second place with 2 hours 21 minutes 53 seconds.

The third place was taken by Zhang Jianfeng had his navigator Wu Xiao Guang from the Jiangzi Isuzu team. 

T3 group (Side by Side) 

Army Ant E team did very well today as the first two places in T3 group were taken by them. Driving No. 212 with his navigator Wang Jirong, the driver Zhang Huijun has first place so far with 1 hour 15 minutes and 20 seconds, which is the fourth place as a whole.

The driver, Zhang Qiang, with his navigator Pen Yi Bo, driving car No. 320, has come in the second place while the third place has been taken by driver Deng Reng Gui and his navigator Fan Li Jun from Changchun Hanxiang Logistics team. 

Open group 

The driver, Jin Lei, from Sandong Jin’s Sorghum team has taken the first place so far with 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 seconds followed by Xu Zuoli from Liqui Molly team being in second place.

The total 57km of the first stage has ended and the complex sections of the desert gave the drivers the exciting feelings of the competition.

The drivers have familiarised themselves with the track and the environment in the first stage of the race and will get themselves fully prepared for the following stages. The second day of the 157 km game is ready to kick off tomorrow.

In the fourth 376 km long stage the competitors discovered the big dunes of the Badain Jaran desert.

The route was designed as a loop around the bivouac of Alxa Right and featured 90% in sandy off road modality with several dunes crossings and sandy valleys with many traces but also hided difficulties.

Considered the terrain and the navigation, concentration was a must and the competitors were required the difficult task to remain focused for most of the part of the 265 km long special stage.

As on the Dakar, the knowledge of the terrain made the difference and the local hero, the 30 year old Aorigele (CHN) from Knight Club won the stage, his third success on this first edition of the Dakar Series China Rally with a crono of 4h17m28s.

“I’m really happy. I’m not a professional driver and today I learned so much driving behind De Villiers”, said Aorigele, who started 17th. Second at + 8min, the winner of the SS3 Zi Yungang (CHN) from Shanxi Yunxiang Team confirmed the good performance of the previous day.

Third at +8min07sec Giniel De Villiers (RSA) and best of the FIA classification. He was driving with a good pace, trying to close the gap on the general standing, when he made a navigation mistake.

“It was a pity for the navigation mistake I did at the end because I was pushing hard and I could have won today. It was a beautiful but hard stage that required to remain focused all time. It is a good training and a lot of sand!” said the 2009 Dakar winner.

“We didn’t expect this rally being so hard”, added De Villiers co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz (GER), “It’s really a good training for Dakar, especially for navigation and dunes crossing. The dunes here are so different from Mauritania and South America, they are really demanding”.

De Villiers remains alone to represent the Toyota Gazoo Racing team colours as his team mate, the Argentinian Lucio Álvarez didn’t take the start following the impact he had yesterday.

103 Han Wei (CHN) finished 7th, followed by #126 Zhou Yong (Haikuotiankong·Yong team). 13th on the 2015 Dakar, Zhou Yong confirmed the high standard of the first edition of the Dakar Series China Rally:

“I’m really happy. Today I felt like on the Dakar! The level of the route is so good that I’m really excited and this is a common feeling at the bivouac. I did my first Dakar in 2005, switching my career from touring and rally car to cross country rally. I have done 8 Dakar so far and I look forward to taking part to the 2018 Dakar in January as you cannot miss the 40th Anniversary”.

The overall standing sees Zi Yungang leading in front of Aorigele (+3min44sec) and De Villiers (+7m04sec). 7th today Han Wei dropped in 4th place.

T2 Group

#202 Wuritunasheng from Zhengzhou Nissan Rich Pickup was the fastest of the T2 category, 23rd overall and leader of the T2 in the general standing. He finished ahead of #207 Zuo Xiaobing (Jaingxi Isuzu) and #205 He Xudong (Jiangxi Isuzu).

T3 group

The 90% sand stage was perfect for the Side by Side, that took advantage of all the potential of their machine. #212 Zhang Huijun (Xingjunyi China Gold E-business) was the fastest driver in the Side by Side class, 12th overall and is the leader for his class in the general standing.

Behind him #311 Deng RenguI (Changchun Hanxiangwulu), made a good performance. He finished 2nd in the T3 and 18th today. Third of the provisional standing of the T3 class #320 Zhang Qiang (Xingjunyi China Gold E-business).

Open class
#319 Su Baoheng (Chewukuangsha Nanzhengbeizha) made an impressive stage, finishing 1st in the Open class and 5th overall, just 20 min from the lead.

Second 135 Li Jianguo (Beidaihe Brother Racing Club. Third #308 Fan Tingjun from Xiangyang Modern City Team. With Today’s result, Su is the leader of the Open class in the general standing.

Tomorrow the competitors will take the start of the 5th stage, a second loop around Alxa right of 375 km (317 of special stage).

A nice and enjoyable stage in the middle of sand dunes in loop format like Stage 1, without liaison sections. The first and the last parts were the most complicated segment with some heavy dunes crossing.

The rest of the route was composed by quick valleys with many traces where some good choices had to be made in terms of navigation. As the day before, the departure was planned in the center of the festival and the finish zone was situated at the entry area of the FB-Festival.

2017 China Auto Cross Country Championships and Dakar Series China Rally ended the second stage in Ālāshàn League, Inner Mongolia Region. 

The Knight Super Player Club's Aorigele continued the previous day's good momentum to win the championship. 

Toyota Gazoo racing South Africa’s Argentine driver Lucio Alvarez and Shaanxi Yunxiang, Auto & Motor Sports Co. Ltd. Liu Feilong are second and fifth respectively.

The second stage is 129 km. Like yesterday, there are no ground road sections in the first half and the second half has large dunes, with the rest mainly canyon road. For drivers who can reduce mistakes in this stage, the results look good. 

In the afternoon there was some light rain which was an inconvenience, although it swept away the heat from the evening’s dust storm and brought the drivers a trace of cooler weather. 

Aorigele, who has a home advantage, defeated the Toyota Gazoo racing South Africa Argentinean driver Alvarez with a 4 minutes and 4 seconds advantage and increased his lead in the overall performance list. His team mate Qin Xu struggled with the day and was delayed for longer than five minutes.

"It was a tough stage. I was trapped in the desert for nearly two minutes, but it was due to my own mistakes. Fortunately, we are still doing well overall and today my team is not doing too badly after this result," said Giniel de Villiers, the South African, the leader of the FIA class.

Shaanxi Yunxiang Automobile and Motor Sports Co. Ltd., Liu Feilong and Zhang Ming were stable with a third and fourth places. Geely Auto Cooper Tire team Han Wei, Shanxi Yunxiang Motor Sport Co. Ltd. driver Zi Rong, and Jin Jing from Liqui Moly Xiongfeng team were ranked sixth to eighth. 

Han Wei: “De Villiers and Peterhansel are my idols. So today one of them is coming here and I am very happy to participate in the same race as him”.

Today Xiangyang Modern City team driver Fan Tingjun gradually recovered the rhythm to have a great result in the top ten. After the drive he said it was not easy to take more time to adapt to the rhythm of the Rally. 

Wei Hongjie from Jiyuan Driving School team was also stable today. He also said that the new car will gradually increase in speed as they have the same technology as giant racing club driver Shen Weijian. He’s currently seventh with a time of 3 hours 56 minutes. 

Of course, one of the difficulties of this stage is to find the right place. For Zhengzhou Nissan Rui Qi team, how to rapidly increase speed while protecting the car has become a key issue. For the first time followers of the Rui Qi car gave it a high rating, and said that although the stage isn’t easy, the overall performance of the car stood the test.

After the end of the two stages, Knight Super Player Club’s Aorigele is in the lead with a total time of 3 hours 27 minutes 03 seconds. Toyota Gazoo racing South Africa, Giniel de Villiers and Lucio Alvarez are in second and third place with 3:32 and 3:35 respectively. 

Tomorrow, the September 26^th drivers will usher in the third stage of the competition.