Back in Ksar Ghilane we let the last three days relive. In Douz, we have regenerated men and materials. Exhaust welded, water pump replaced, oil in, oil out, tanks and canisters filled to the brim. Our food boxes were freshly refilled also. And then relaxed a little at the pool. The special stage from Douz to Ksar we tackled early. About 200 km of pists, dunes and anymore pists had what it takes. If the stage “Le Lac” had potential for a queen stage, “Douz to Ksar” will be a fate stage. To get the day’s victory, discipline and patience are necessary.

Today was a backup route of about 250km on the program again. Everything included, fastest pists, beautiful high dunes and stony passages where it is to keep a cool head. Iris and Heiko just come back with the Gazelle from their special stage, which has probably made ​​very high demands on man and machine.

Tomorrow we will look for a new dune passage, to replace a part of camel grass. Certainly not without.

Greetings from the desert. Christian

(translated, on 25 march)

Even the first circuit of 200 km was serious stuff. In the beginning much sand and then pists, this could be very selective in autumn. This day’s ride was tricky. The two following day stages will be prepared as a substitute, if the trip to El Borma will be not allowed.

Replacement is good, but they are almost better: In one day from Ksar to “camp mars” and then to the “lost lake”. “Le Lac” is certainly one of the trophies of any driver through Tunisia and it must be earned. After thirteen crescent dunes, we stopped counting. It seemed to have no end. But it was worth it. The mood near by the lake is breathtaking. That alone would worth the trip. The return trip to Ksar certainly has the quality of a queen stage. At the beginning endless dunes, a little bit pist for rest and then another 15 km of dunes and then again pists.

So who thought, a pre-tour would be a children’s birthday, I can say now: Forget it. As intense as I’ve seen no rally special stage up to now. No sweeper truck, no CP-team which friendly smiles, no service truck at the camp, no catering. A real adventure, which is great fun and really challenging. This adventure you can follow live thanks Explona in the web.

Greetings from the desert. Christian

(translated, on 25 march)

This evening we arrived in Ksar Ghilane and we are glad, that we are not the only ones here in the oasis. Something’s happening, which was noted already in the harbor: The increased number of Europeans.

The crossing was not quiet but very pleasant. The customs clearance went very quickly, despite three ferries, arrived at the same time. Just the exit out of the gate was chaotic, what is clear however, if rejuvenate eight tracks to one.

After the obligatory meeting with Jamel it went straight to Gabes (approx. 400 km) to the beach to camp in a great atmosphere. In the morning, after a short detour to check the hotel for the rally, it started with checking of 240 km road book track. Now, arrived in Ksar, we prepare us for the tomorrow’s mission and reduce the weight of the car;-).

Greetings from the desert. Christian

(translated, on 25 March)

All results of the ElChott 2011:

Ranking over all stage by stage   Ranking in categories stage by stages   Detailed stage results

Final Result   El Chott 2011 – ranking over all –

rank	race-n	pilot / co-pilot	vehicle	class		time total
1.	24	Reiner Fink	Husaberg	E1		30:20:53
2.	14	Ulrich Otto	KTM	E1		32:08:13
3.	16	Eric Fierhauser	KTM	E1		40:16:33
4.	17	Davide Piovesan	KTM	E1		40:47:57
5.	501	Kolomý / Kilian / Boughattas	TATRA	TH		41:06:01
6.	25	Alexander Küchenthal	Husaberg	E1		48:37:06
7.	307	Müller / Teuber	Tomcat Bowler	CP		56:47:59
8.	22	Alessandro Lombardo	Yamaha	E1		57:44:30
9.	202	Novak / Šuštar	Toyota	CM		58:42:58
10.	206	Wenzelis / Heinzmann	Landrover	CM		59:25:09
11.	503	Kretz / Winter / Pessl	MAN	TH		64:38:37
12.	111	Ortmann / Drechsler	Toyota	CS		68:51:42
13.	81	Dittmann / Dittmann	Polaris RZR	BU		68:57:07
14.	207	Kliebisch / Janke	Toyota	CM		69:06:49
15.	205	Netzsch / Blessing	Landrover	CM		69:12:08
16.	20	Fabio Deserti	KTM	E1		72:41:34
17.	204	Wulf / Bork	Nissan	CM		96:58:50
18.	108	Fronius / Entenfellner	Nissan	CS		101:12:07
19.	308	Polombelli / Frezza	Landrover	CP		103:32:45
20.	209	Hudribusch / Hudribusch	Mitsubishi	CM		110:07:25
21.	23	Christine Steinkrauß	KTM	E1		111:47:35
22.	19	Fabrizio Pecorelli	KTM	E1		113:44:52
23.	304	Porschen / Körver	VW/Landrover	CP		120:07:25
24.	210	Felseis / Felseis	Toyota	CM		138:45:12
	26	Stephan Preuss	KTM	E1		out
	502	Mühmel / Lottermoser / Mühmel	MAN	TH		out
	15	Jörg Santjer	Aprilia	E1		out
	21	Massimiliano Spada	KTM	E1		out
	306	Sand / Ettrichrätz	Mercedes	CP		out
	18	Paolo Salmaso	KTM	E1		out
	403	Wiesel / Kallenberg / Kahlo	Unimog	TL		out
	309	Ziegler / Ziegler	Mercedes	CP		out

Final Result   El Chott 2011 – ranking class E1 (Enduro) –

rank	race-n	pilot	vehicle	class		time total
1.	24	Reiner Fink	Husaberg	E1		30:20:53
2.	14	Ulrich Otto	KTM	E1		32:08:13
3.	16	Eric Fierhauser	KTM	E1		40:16:33
4.	17	Davide Piovesan	KTM	E1		40:47:57
5.	25	Alexander Küchenthal	Husaberg	E1		48:37:06
6.	22	Alessandro Lombardo	Yamaha	E1		57:44:30
7.	20	Fabio Deserti	KTM	E1		72:41:34
8.	23	Christine Steinkrauß	KTM	E1		111:47:35
9.	19	Fabrizio Pecorelli	KTM	E1		113:44:52
	26	Stephan Preuss	KTM	E1		out
	15	Jörg Santjer	Aprilia	E1		out
	21	Massimiliano Spada	KTM	E1		out
	18	Paolo Salmaso	KTM	E1		out

Final Result   El Chott 2011 – ranking class CS (cars standart) – 

rank	race-n	pilot / co-pilot	vehicle	class		time total
1.	111	Ortmann / Drechsler	Toyota	CS		68:51:42
2.	108	Fronius / Entenfellner	Nissan	CS		101:12:07

Final Result   El Chott 2011 – ranking class CM (cars modified) –

rank	race-n.	pilot / co-pilot	vehicle	class		time total
1.	202	Novak / Šuštar	Toyota	CM		58:42:58
2.	206	Wenzelis / Heinzmann	Landrover	CM		59:25:09
3.	207	Kliebisch / Janke	Toyota	CM		69:06:49
4.	205	Netzsch / Blessing	Landrover	CM		69:12:08
5.	204	Wulf / Bork	Nissan	CM		96:58:50
6.	209	Hudribusch / Hudribusch	Mitsubishi	CM		110:07:25
7.	210	Felseis / Felseis	Toyota	CM		138:45:12

Final Result   El Chott 2011 – ranking class CP+BU (4×4 prototypes + buggy) –

rank	race-n	pilot / co-pilot	vehicle	class		time total
1.	307	Müller / Teuber	Tomcat	CP		56:47:59
2.	81	Dittmann / Dittmann	Polaris RZR	BU		68:57:07
3.	308	Polombelli / Frezza	Landrover	CP		103:32:45
4.	304	Porschen / Körver	VW/Landrover	CP		120:07:25
	306	Sand / Ettrichrätz	Mercedes	CP		out
	309	Ziegler / Ziegler	Mercedes	CP		out

Final Result   El Chott 2011 – ranking trucks –

rank	race-n	pilot / co-pilot	vehicle	class		time total
1.	501	Kolomý / Kilian / Boughattas	TATRA	TH		41:06:01
2.	503	Kretz / Winter / Pessl	MAN	TH		64:38:37
	502	Mühmel / Lottermoser / Mühmel	MAN	TH		out
	403	Wiesel / Kallenberg / Kahlo	Unimog	TL		out

The ElChott 2011 live, all tracks, all teams: http://www.explona.org/elchott2011/

Nefta, 09.11.2011

Hotel Caravan Serail, 18.00 clock, all teams except the start number 81 (Dittmann / Dittmann) have been checked. The timely achievement of the goal at the start of the dunes turned Wars scenes for all the participants were not a problem within the standard time in the Central Committee, with the exception of RZR (81). After cracked drive belt it was towed back to Douz, where the service crew was waiting with a new belt. So for Titus and Julius just a matter of time before they reach Nefta.

Fastest of the day were not the bikes but the Tatras with start number 501 – already the second victory!
The audit gave everything they had expected or feared the rally participants: sandy and rocky, some fast moving sections of slopes but also with many ditches and washouts. The Chott itself proved to be traveled to the passage in the far west to be absolutely dry. Also, the narrow tracks and then following the last dune before the finish was not much more challenging.

The rally is coming to an end. Even if it is too early to draw conclusions, the number of participants, although tired from basically quite happy. The same applies to the organization: No emergencies, no faults in the process, with the exception of the crossed-El Borma – testing everything according to plan! And even despite all the fears not be overstated, any negative sentiment in the population, no incidents, no roadblocks, no special controls, on the contrary: a totally relaxed and friendly as always, the host country.

Jörg Schumann