Competitors battle dust clouds at Stage 4 in Taklimakan Rally

Dust clouds dominated the fourth special stage of the Taklimakan Rally in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Saturday, as experienced competitors navigated treacherous terrain to finish strong while others lost their way.

The 246-kilometer route unfolded along a high-speed course cut through a dried riverbed, where deep cuts and sudden drops made for a dangerous and demanding run. In the motorcycle category, several riders lost their bearings and failed to locate key waypoints, but Hoto Factory Racing Team's Lithuanian rider Arunas Gelazninkas took first place in 3:01:50.

The car division saw Duonai Shock Absorber Team's Zhu Guanghai and navigator Chen Qingkai post the fastest time of 2:15:58, outpacing defending champion and four-time winner Han Wei and co-driver Ma Li, who finished in 2:18:39.

Sunday marked the rally's first rest day. Racing will resume on Monday with the 282-kilometer SS5 – canceled last year due to extreme weather and now set for its long-awaited debut.