Dust clouds filled the air as competitors braved the fourth special stage of the Taklimakan Rally in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Saturday. The grueling 246-kilometer route tested even the most seasoned racers, with treacherous terrain causing several participants to lose their way.
The stage unfolded along a high-speed course carved through a dried riverbed. Deep cuts and sudden drops made the race both dangerous and demanding, challenging drivers and riders to their limits. In the motorcycle category, navigation proved tricky, but Hoto Factory Racing Team’s Lithuanian rider Arunas Gelazninkas emerged victorious with a time of 3 hours, 1 minute, and 50 seconds.
In the car division, the duo of Zhu Guanghai and navigator Chen Qingkai from Duonai Shock Absorber Team posted the fastest time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 58 seconds. They managed to outpace defending champion and four-time winner Han Wei and his co-driver Ma Li, who finished at 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 39 seconds.
Sunday provided a much-needed rest day for the competitors. Racing is set to resume on Monday with the 282-kilometer Stage 5, a segment that was canceled last year due to extreme weather and now eagerly anticipated by participants and fans alike.
