GRAN TOURISM MARATHON, June 20th-July 4th, 2009
For immediate release
Monday, February 9th, 2009
NEW GRAN TOURISM MARATHON
EVENT SET FOR SUMMER 2009
·New 14-day Marathon race open to GT cars
·Paris start and Astana finish planned for Gran Tourism Marathon
·Entry details available for British, Irish and Middle East entrants
PARIS (France): Entries are now open for an exciting new marathon rally for GT cars, which takes place between June 20th and July 4th, 2009. The 2009 Gran Tourism Marathon starts in Paris, passes through Berlin, Saint Petersburg and Moscow and finishes in Astana after a route of 7,500km over 14 days.
This new event is the brainchild of Pascal Rostagny and his team in Paris and is open solely for GT cars. The route will be held entirely on asphalt roads throughout Europe and Asia and intends to relive the atmosphere and spirit of the great road races held between 1950 and 1970.
Eligible vehicles will be two-door coupé or convertible series production cars, fitted with safety equipment and a fire extinguisher. Classic GT cars may be accepted provided that they are in excellent technical working order. Spare wheels, tyres, shock absorbers and air filters can either be transported in organisational repair trucks or inside the registered competition cars.
Each stage will consist of regularity sections controlled by a tracking system and penalties will be assigned depending upon the difference between the allotted time and the imposed average speed. GPS will be prohibited and the entire route will be governed by a road book and passage controls. Local traffic regulations will need to be respected at all times.
The registration fee for the Gran Tourism Marathon is 35,000 euros per car for two people and this includes entry and registration fee, accommodation in a twin-bedded room between scrutineering in Paris and the finish in Astana and rental of the tracking units. The fee also covers meals from scrutineering to a final breakfast in Astana, tickets to the prize giving dinner, car park security, qualified technical assistance, luggage transportation, medical assistance and repatriation insurance, civil liability insurance and a DVD and book of the event.
The registration fee does not include fuel used during the event, personal expenses incurred, the return trip and visas required en route. Entry is limited to 70 cars.
There will be between 400km and 700km per day and one rest day in the schedule. The race will start from Paris and head across Western Europe for two stages in Germany. After Berlin the route will cross Poland and head north to visit the three Baltic countries, before the planned rest day in Moscow.
Competitors will then head across Russia and reach Asia via the Ural mountains. The last two stages will be held in Kazakhstan and the rally will reach its conclusion in Astana on Saturday, July 4th.
For competitors interested in taking part in the 2009 Gran Tourism Marathon from Great Britain, Ireland and the Middle East, please contact Neil Perkins, Gran Tourism Marathon Liaison Representative, NDP Publicity Services, Tel: + 44 1952 825001, Mobile: + 44 7831 123153, E-mail: NDPPublicity@compuserve.com, www.ndp-publicity.com (press releases).
Ends
For further event information:
www.gtmarathon.com