China-Sanya International 4x4 Challenge 2009, Day Two
2009-09-20Text by Darshan Maralanda, pix by Anuradha Ratnaweera
Lankan Team's car was ready for another day of prologue and to face special stages in the coming days ahead. The vehicle went through few changes by the request of the team to Arbin, the vehicle owner, and most of the requirements were attended to before the prologue of day two.
There were two more Prologue special stages and the Lankan team was able to finish both without any issues.
The Patrol was performing better with a softer accelerator paddle and a more responsive engine. Around 1 p.m., the convoy headed to the hilly mountain area covered with thick rain forest. The tarmac was so left behind and gravel took over, and the gravel did not last too long where the track became very muddy and passing through narrow spaces.
The campsite was approximately 3.5 hours drive on low range. The campsite was an orchard growing mangoes and rambutan, however for the competitors it was the off season to reap any benefits from this orchard.
The Lankan team setup their camp site in a secluded area with goose neck lamps demarcating their parameter. However, the rest of the camp site looked like Sanya city with so many floury cent lights powered with inverters. Also there were sound systems complimented with disco lights which were loud as the Blue Elephant disco packs.
