Following a steadier start, where he initially dropped to eighth in the rankings, Benavides was able to find a good rhythm over the mixed terrain of the special and immediately began to make up places. With a deficit of just over three and a half minutes to the eventual stage winner at the finish, Luciano placed fourth for the day and lies fifth in the overall standings, less than four minutes down on the early rally leader.
Luciano Benavides: “Another stage, another tough day in the office. It was a long stage, not too difficult in terms of navigation, but there were a lot of long notes and lots of different terrain – dunes, riverbeds, stones. It wasn’t easy to find a good flow through all of that, but in the end, I think I did a good job. Times are really tight in the overall classification, so I’ll give my best again tomorrow and let’s see how things go.”
2023 Rallye du Maroc – Stage 2 Provisional Classification
1. Tosha Schareina (Honda) 3:02:15
2. Toby Price (KTM) 3:03:15
3. Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 3:04:36
4. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 3:05:49
5. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 3:07:11
6. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 3:07:13
2023 Rallye du Maroc – Provisional Overall Classification [After Stage 2]
1. Ross Branch (Hero) 7:18:15
2. Toby Price (KTM) 7:19:19
3. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 7:20:36
4. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 7:21:31
5. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 7:22:04
6. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 7:27:39