ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING RALLY STAR EXTENDS HIS LEAD IN THE FIM CROSS-COUNTRY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WITH ONE ROUND TO GO
Securing a podium result at the 2018 edition of the Desafio Ruta 40 rally, Pablo Quintanilla has accomplished his major goal of extending his lead in the provisional FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. With one more round remaining in October, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider remains set on the ultimate goal of defending his World Championship for a third consecutive season.
Friday’s fifth and final stage of the Desafio Ruta 40 was a mixture of sandy terrain and fast dirt tracks. With a goal of safely bringing his FR 450 Rally machine to the finish line, Pablo Quintanilla enjoyed a steady pace throughout the timed special. Claiming fourth for the day, the Chilean rally star found his way to the Desafio Ruta 40 podium with third overall at the 2018 edition of the event.
Enjoying a stellar 2018 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship campaign, Quintanilla is now leading the series standings by eight points over second-placed Toby Price. Failing to finish outside the top-three in any of the events he has contested this year, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider will head to the season finale in October determined to become the 2018 World Champion.
Before heading to the World Championship finale in October, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rally duo of Quintanilla and Andrew Short will contest the 2018 Desafio Inka rally in Peru on September 14/16.
Pablo Quintanilla: “I did my best battling for the overall podium today and it was a great relief to learn that I made it. We raced through some sandy terrain and it was hard to make up time to the leading group of riders. There were times I wasn’t feeling comfortable to push, so I decided to keep it steady, avoid mistakes and bring my Husqvarna to the finish of this exhausting rally. Getting on the box here in Argentina is a great result that gives me the points I need to get a clear lead in the championship. We now have one more round to go – the Morocco Rally in October – and I will do my best to defend my title for a third consecutive season.”
Download high-res images from the 2018 Desafio Ruta Rally here.
2018 Desafio Ruta 40 Rally – Stage 5 Provisional Classification
1. Toby Price (KTM) 01:57:03
2. Paulo Goncalves (Honda) 02:00:25
3. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 02:02:07
4. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 02:04:18
5. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 02:08:27
6. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 02:09:11
2018 Desafio Ruta 40 Rally – Overall Classification
1. Paulo Goncalves (Honda) 17:06:02
2. Toby Price (KTM) 17:06:08
3. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 17:14:47
4. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 17:18:49
5. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 17:53:56
6. Luciano Benavides (KTM) 18:33:17
