Mattias Ekström was back on the move towards Al Duwadimi for a short while, only to stop again at km 51, just four km further on from where his initial problem started.
Ekström is grappling with a reported rear-end issue. He waited for Peterhansel to pass by, hoping to source parts, maybe even directly from the Frenchman’s Audi. This setback is set to cost the second-place driver dearly with Loeb in a virtual second overall.
Stéphane Peterhansel reached Ekström but only spent eight minutes with his colleague, suggesting the problem isn’t a quick fix.
Photo courtesy of Red-Lined Motorsport
