After a very sad day, the stage of today  betwen Turpan and Korla was the longest selective section of 2016 Taklimakan Rally. Han Wei and Jean-Pierre Garcin on their buggy HanWei Motorsport had a very good day. Arnaud Monleón continues to catch up Min Ji Fang in the bike category.   
It was 4.30 AM when the first bike left the bivouac of Turpan. A very early start because the stage of the day is the longest stage of the rally composed of 874 kilometers including 500 kilometers in selective section. No dunes, but sand, dust and stones on few sections were on program. The arrival was organzed in Korla near Taklimakan desert. 
On the south of Xinjiang Province, Han Wei and Jean-Pierre Garcin of HanWei Motorsport Team was the most efficient. The day of the franco-chinese is impressive especially as he has opened the route during the whole day in a very tricky stage in navigation.
Han Wei and Jean-Pierre Garcin got their third stage victory in Taklimakan Rally before competitors quite unlucky. Second at the overall classification this morning, Kun Liu and Pan Hongyu on Mitsubishi pajero have lost much time today. Due to a puncture and the break of a damper, the crew number 102 of Panda Motorsport finishes fifth at more than 25 minutes of the winner of the day. Philippe Gache and Stéphane Prévot, on their second HanWei Motorsport  buggy, have lived a way worst day. Stoped at CP1 due to oil pressure problem, the buggy number 129 got the fixed penalty.
In the overall classification, Han Wei and his codriver increase their lead. Kun Liu and Pan Hongyu are still second almost 37 minutes behind. Xuebin Lu and Hogwu Lu are third with their Landcruiser for the first time since the beginning of 2016 Taklimakan Rally.
Armand Monleón on his KTM 450 Replica pushes hard in bike category. After he got a one hour penalty because he lost his time card in Stage 2, the Spanish finished 18 minutes in Stage 3 and 32 minutes in Stage 4 today ahead his main rival Ming Ji Fang on KTM who got lost few times.
The gap between the favourites is now only of 11 minutes at the advantage of the Chinese rider.
Willy Jobard and Thierry Traccan took the decision to not continue the adventure since the death of their friend Gérard Anthony.  
In the evening, Taklimakan Rally paid tribute to Gérard Anthony during a ceremony organized in the bivouac. Hunan TV, broadcaster of the event, had especially edited a movie about his adventure in China.
Tomorrow, on Saturday May 21st, competitors will go for the first time into Taklimakan desert, one of the largest sandy desert in the world. The stage will be 474 kilometers long including 186 kilometers of special stage.      

Press: Taklimakan Rally