It was a dream start to Stage 3 of the Land Rover G4 Challenge for the home team. Even though Brazil\u2019s Eleonora Audra hails from Sao Paulo rather than Rio de Janeiro, her victory in the Stage Start together with Martin Dreyer from South Africa, had the local crowd on Copacabana Beach on their feet. With cheers of Brazil, Brazil ringing throughout the purpose-built arena, the 27-year old Graphic Designer sprinted to the finish, narrowly beating her former team mate, Alina McMaster from Australia. We just looked across at each other during the race and wished each other good luck, said Eleonora. But it wasnt easy to compete against my former team mate like that. We are still great friends.<\/p>\n
The all-girl team of Brazil and Australia had been together during the first half of the Challenge, but even though Eleonora had the first choice during the morning\u2019s Team Partner Selection, and couldve chosen Alina again, she opted instead for Martin Dreyer one of the most powerful and respected competitors on the Challenge. Both Alina and I realised that we had to split up if either of us wanted a shot at making it into the top four at the end of the Challenge, said Nora of her choice.<\/p>\n
Alina the only female in the top ten was selected by Michael Tsaoutos from Greece. I only chose her to make my wife jealous, he quipped. Seriously though, she is much faster than me, so I will have to push myself to keep up.<\/p>\n