At three stages of the end of 2016 Taklimakan Rally, Han Wei and Jean-Pierre Garcin keep the leadership in car category after a one hundred percent dune stage from Qiemo to Yutian.  Armand Monleón wins another stage victory in bike category.
This 499 kilometers stage long was not a pleasure cruise for the 81 cars and 9 bikes still in the race. Selective section of 235 kilometers, taking place in the dunes of the south of Xinjiang Province, was described as one of the most difficult stages by the organizers.  The difficulty of the stage has increased with the appearance of a sand wind and a very low visibility as a consequence. 
With more than thirty minutes in the overall classification ahead for Han Wei and Jean-Pierre Garcin, HanWei Motorsport team had decided to establish a crew strategy. Philippe Gache and Stéphane Prévot, on the number 129 buggy, far in the overall classification but second in the starting order, wanted to let the other buggy overtake them quickly and then back it up during the whole stage.   
Things did not happen as they should have for HanWei Motorsport team. Philippe Gache and Stéphane Prévot, stuck in the sand close to CP1 for more than thirty minutes, had to let the other buggy go very early in the selective section. Han Wei and Jean-Pierre Garcin, finally third of the stage, was also stuck more than fifteen minutes few kilometers later, trapped in fesh-fesh without any back-up to help them to get out.  
Kun Liu and Pan Hongyu started the selective section first and made a perfect race even though navigation was tricky, and opening of the route very difficult. Crew number 106 saved three minutes in the overall classification to the yellow buggy of Han Wei and Jean-Pierre Garcin. However it has to let the victory to crew number 115 Hai Wang et Dajun Wu for only two seconds.
In the overall classification, Han Wei and Jean-Pierre Garcin still lead the race. Kun Liu and Pan Hongyu are now at 29 minutes.  The other crews are more than two hours behind. Toyota Landcruiser number 111 of Xuebin Lu and Hongwu Lu finishes only forteenth of the stage but keep its third place.
While car category is uncertain, things become clear for bikes.  Armand Monleón on his KTM 450 Redbull wins his fifth stage in a row in seven stages in total. Min Jin Fang, second in the overall classification, could not follow the top speed of the Spanish, tenth in 2016 Dakar Rally. Chinese rider decided to drive slowly because of an engine starting to be in bad condition. He lost in Yutian more than one hour and fifteen minutes.
Armand Monleón flyes away in overall classification and seems to be very close to the final victory. 
His KTM Redbull teamates, Min Zhang et Hongyi Zhao, struggle with Tian Zhou on Jincheng to get one place on the podium at Aksu.
Tomorrow, on Wednesday Mau 25th, caravan of Taklimakan Rally is beginning to go to the north of Xinjiang Province. A 288 kilometers selective section long from Yutian and Mazartag Mountain is on program. A bivouac will be set-up between dunes. 

Press: Taklimakan Rally