Maitland's Toby Price loses lead in tough day in dunes in Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

Price, from Aberglasslyn, led the field into the 258km fourth stage, but a sixth placing has seen him drop to second 2 mins 45 sec behind Chilean rider Pablo Quintanilla, who finished fourth on the stage won by French rider Pierre Alexandre Renet.

Price’s KTM teammate Dubai-based British rider Sam Sunderland is two seconds behind Price on the overall standings. 

“This stage once again lived up to its reputation as the toughest in the Desert Challenge,” Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Automobile and Touring Club, the rally organisers, said.

“But there is still another 234km of competitive dessert rallying ahead and concentration is still very important on the final leg.”

Price said he felt the heat after cooler conditions in the first three days of racing.

“It was a very hot day. We were lucky on the first few days of the rally when it was much cooler. But that’s another 250km in the bag,” he said.

“These sand dunes are massive and can catch you out very easily. Today was a really weird day, I'm going to bite my tongue on this one. 

“One more day to go, should be good. Today was smooth riding most of the time.”

Price’s third stage showed Husqvarna rider Quintanilla’s lead is not insurmountable.

Trailing Quintanilla by two minutes and 48 seconds, Price was able to claw back the time and establish a one minute 15 second lead.

Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah (Toyota Hiluk) continued along his relentless path towards a second cars triumph.

Russia’s Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov saw their hopes of a third successive Desert Challenge title disappear when their Mini was halted by mechanical problems.

Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi and German co-driver Timo Gotschalk are now second 28 mins 8 secs behind Al Attiyah.

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