The Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Racing rider rode superbly, chasing down the leaders to claim third in the stage. Team-mate Sam Sunderland also put in a excellent performance to finish just over one-minute behind Walkner in fifth place for the day. Laia Sanz rode another good stage and brought her KTM home in ninth.

At 547km, stage four of the 2017 Atacama Rally was the longest of the event. The timed special stage was also the longest at an exhausting 375km over very fast, rough terrain. The route took competitors north from Mejillones to the coastal city of Iquique, close to the country’s northern border.

Matthias Walkner rode his best stage of the event so far to finish as top KTM rider in third place. Walkner’s pace has improved throughout the rally and after a difficult start, the KTM 450 RALLY rider was pleased with his stage four performance and hopes to carry that form into the final day, tomorrow.

Walkner: “That was a long day of riding today. I am suffering a little with my fitness after the summer break, and these long days really take it out of you. My speed is good, but I know it can be improved. Navigation today was hard, but luckily I didn’t make too many errors and I’m pleased to post the third fastest time for the day. I’ll attack the short stage tomorrow and hopefully move up the overall standings.”

Walkner’s team-mate, Sam Sunderland, was flying today on the first half of the stage. The British rider managed to catch and pass the three riders who started in front of him and was close to putting in an awesome time for the stage. Close to the finish however, an error in navigation cost the championship leader nearly 10 minutes.

Sunderland: “That was a really frustrating stage for me. I knew I had to push today to close on the leaders before tomorrow. Things were going really well and at the first refuel I was approximately three minutes ahead. Towards the end of the stage, the riders in front made an error and I managed to pass them, which would mean I was about nine minutes ahead on time.

“Unfortunately, with about 10km to go, I misread the road-book and ended up taking a bad route across the dunes – I lost all the time I had made up. The important thing is, I am home safe and we have another day tomorrow. I plan to push on again and hopefully I can get on the podium.”

KTM Rally Factory Racing’s Laia Sanz, put in another solid performance to finish the day inside the top 10. A mistake later on in the stage cost the Spaniard 15 minutes. Despite this Sanz enjoyed the day and is looking forward to the final stage tomorrow, and the finish.

Sanz: “It was a good stage, certainly at the beginning. I was riding well and enjoying it. Physically it was very tiring though, over 500km in the desert is tough, especially over the rough ground we had today. I’m a little bit sad because towards the end of the special, I made a mistake with my navigation. For me, one waypoint was further forward than on the road-book. Worried I had missed it, I had to turn around to try to find it. As it turned out, it was just 800metres up the course. So, I lost maybe 15 minutes, but apart from that I am happy with how things went today.”

Tomorrow’s final day of the 2017 Atacama Rally features a short 158km special stage close to the city of Iquique.

Provisional Results Stage 4 Atacama Rally 2017

1. Kevin Benavides (ARG), Honda, 3:52:56
2. Pablo Quintanilla (CHL), Husqvarna, 3:55:44 +2:48
3. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 3:56:09 +3:13
4. Paulo Goncalves (PRT), Honda, 3:56:59 +4:03
5. Sam Sunderland, (GBR), KTM, 3:57:35 +4:39
Other KTM
6. Ignacio Cornejo (CHL), KTM, 4:02:06 +9:10
9. Laia Sanz (ESP), KTM, 4:32:52 +39:56
10. Daniel Gouet (CHL), KTM, 4:35:10 +42:14

Provisional Standings – Atacama Rally 2017 after 4 of 5 stages

1. Kevin Benavides (ARG), Honda, 11:18:05
2. Pablo Quintanilla (CHL), Husqvarna, 11:18:07 +2 seconds
3. Sam Sunderland (GBR), KTM, 11:29:36 +11:31
4. Paulo Goncalves (PRT), Honda, 11:29:39 +11:34
5. Matthias Walkner (AUS), KTM 11:34:16 +16:11
Other KTM,
8. Ignacio Cornejo (CHL), KTM, 12:01:30 +43:25
10. Daniel Gouet (CHL), KTM, 12:44:45 +1:26:40
11. Laia Sanz (ESP), KTM, 12:56:12 +1:38:07