again unlucky fate befall the defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah when undergoing a special trajectory (SS) 5 with the route from Chilecito to Fiambala, Thursday (01/05/2012). Qatari rally driver was experiencing technical problems in which the Hummer H3 engine heat while conquering terrain as far as 153 km, so that dashed his hopes to improve its ranking.

"Spare tire loose and hit the water pipes in the engine, so the engine temperature rises. We were forced to stop and fix and lost a lot of time," complained Attiyah.

The fifth route controlled racer from Poland Krzystof Holowczyc the MINI driving. He carved a fastest time of 2 hours 10 minutes 51 seconds and 1 minute 01 seconds ahead of other Hummer H3 racer, Robby Gordon (United States).

With this result, Holowczyc managed to improve its ranking from fourth to poke a second. The top standings while still held by the participants of the team's flagship MINI Stephane Peterhansel, who finished in third. This French racer winning 4 minutes more than his team mate's.

"The condition of the track is not too soft after a rain has made our night driving a car," said Holowczyc.

While Peterhansel decides to show fight, despite a slightly distracted when crossing times, but could be back in competition, "said Peterhansel. According to him, Fiambala very difficult route," And we were opening the way this course is not good, "he added.

In the motorcycle category, Cyril Despres of France participants had mastered the fifth with a total route travel time 2 hours 28 minutes 33 seconds and won only 1 minute 41 seconds. With this result Despres still maintaining its leading position in the standings.

Route 6 off

The committee has decided a special route 6 from Fiambala to Copiapo canceled. Cause, bad weather conditions (rain and snow) in the Chilean Andes Cordillera making authorities closed it.

Moderate to run a special route 7, the participant must cross the Andes, the organizers have decided to do convoys, tomorrow.