Racers faced a desert gauntlet at Stage 4 of the Taklimakan Rally in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region this weekend, where swirling dust clouds turned the 246-kilometer course into a high-stakes game of ‘find the waypoint or get lost’ 🗺️. The dried riverbed route – packed with sudden drops and hidden traps – separated seasoned pros from struggling newcomers.
Motorcycle Mayhem
Lithuanian rider Arunas Gelazninkas (Hoto Factory Racing) mastered the chaos, clocking 3:01:50 despite multiple competitors veering off-track. ‘It felt like racing blindfolded,’ one participant later joked – though no one was laughing mid-race 😅.
Four-Wheel Fury
In the car division, Zhu Guanghai and navigator Chen Qingkai (Duonai Shock Absorber Team) stunned fans by outpacing defending champ Han Wei by nearly 3 minutes! Their 2:15:58 finish proves even desert veterans can be dethroned 🏆.
After Sunday’s rest day, Monday brings the rally’s most anticipated challenge: the 282km SS5 – canceled last year due to sandstorms. Will the terrain claim new victims? Stay tuned! ⏳
