Before the rest day in the bivouac of Qiemo, competitors have crossed yesterday, on Sunday May 22nd, the first dunes of 2016 Taklimakan Rally during a stage of 399 kilometers long located for the most part in the heart of Taklimakan desert.
After heading for south since the start of the rally in Tacheng, located in the North-West of the Xinjiang Province, caravan of 2016 Taklimakan Rally has since yesterday morning changed the cap and started to cross Taklimakan desert from East to West.
The special stage of 226 kilometers long between Ruoqiang and Qiemo was composed of tortuous tracks, few stony parts and 40 kilometers long of sand section. 
First dunes of 2016 Taklimakan Rally did not widen the gap in car category because of sand becoming harder since the rains that fell down last days in the area.
The struggle between the two favorites to the final victory was remarkable. Han Wei and Jean-Pierre Garcin of HanWei Motorsport team, on one side, and Kun Liu and Pan Hongyu of Panda Motorsport team, on the other side, have responded each other. The yellow buggy and the Mitsubishi Pajero overtook many times during the 226 kilometers long of selective section. The car ahead had to open the route in very tricky dunes.  Yangui Liu and He Sha, started first, did not indeed lead the race for a long time due to a brake hose hit by a stone.
Kun Liu and Pan Hongyu finally get the victory, and win in Qiemo their second stages since the start of the 2016 Taklimakan Rally. Han Wei and Jean-Pierre Garcin finish third and should now not take any risk in the coming stage. Philippe Gache and Stéphane Prévot, between the two favorites, finishes 15 seconds behind the winners of the day.  
At four stages of the end of Taklimakan Rally, the gap between number 101 yellow buggy and number 106 Mitsubishi Pajero is about 36 minutes in the overall classification. The third place is still hold by the Toyota Landcruiser of Xuebin Lu et Hogwu Lu, twelfth yesterday. In SSV category, Bin Liu and Xiang Li lead the overall classification on board of a vehicle prepared by Marco Piana of XtremePlus team, who also entered in 2016 Taklimakan Rally.
In bike category, Armand Monleón keeps riding alone.
The KTM Redbull rider gets in Qiemo his fourth stage victory in a row. The Spanish did not make any mistake contrary to his rival Min Ji Fang who was lost few times.  After stage 6, Armand Monleón gets ahead of 14 minutes. Tian Zhou on Jincheng finishes third, his same place as in the overall classification.
Tomorrow on Tuesday May 24th, after a rest day in Qiemo this monday, competitors will go to head to Yutian with a stage of 499 kilometers including 235 kilometers in selective section.
Classifications might be shaked up tomorrow evening after a 100% dunes stage.

Press: Taklimakan Rally