MOTOR SPORT
SILK WAY RALLY, July 9-16, 2011
For immediate release
Sunday, July 10th, 2011
MINI ALL4 RACING LEADS THE WAY AT SILK WAY RALLY
– Silk Way Rally starts with historical backdrop
– Thousands of spectators at start ramp in Red Square
MOSCOW (Russia): The Monster Energy X-raid Team started the 2011 Silk Way Rally in Moscow’s Red Square on Saturday.
The French duo of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret opened the starting ceremony in their MINI All4 Racing and were the first crew on the podium between the Kremlin and the famous basilica in Red Square.
Thousands of spectators were present and also witnessed the X-raid duo of Krzysztof Holowczyc/Jean-Marc Fortin (POL/BEL) and the Russian pairing of Alexander Mironenko/Sergey Lebedev take the start in their BMW X3CCs.
After technical scrutineering of the three cars and service vehicles in the Luzhniki Stadium – the venue for the 1980 Olympics – crews took part in the podium ceremony in Red Square.
For Stéphane Peterhansel the start of the rally was special: "It's great to start driving here at the Red Square. Many years ago I was here once before, but back then there were not many spectators,” said the Frenchman.
Holowczyc and Fortin followed in their BMW X3CC. "At this place to start is simply unbelievable," said the Polish driver. "I am for the first time in Moscow and I was delighted to see so many spectators along the route."
X-raid newcomers, Sergey Mironenko and Alexander Lebedev, enjoyed the start as well. "To spend a rally start at the heart of Russia and to see so many people is a great debut,” said Mironenko.
"This was grandiose scenery and a beautiful location for the start of the Silk Way Rally," said Sven Quandt, Monster Energy and X-raid team boss. "Huge numbers of enthusiastic spectators have gathered here. Now we hope the weather is favourable and it stops raining. "
The three teams tackle the first leg from Moscow to Lipetsk on Sunday. After a 260 km road section, teams will tackle 310 km against the clock. The first part of the stage will be held on fast tracks before the route becomes more technical with some off-road sections.
Ends
Further information and photos are available at www.x-raid.de or contact Stefanie Szlapka and Thomas Quandt at X-raid GmbH, Tel: + 49 (0) 6147 204670, E-mail: t.quandt@x-raid.de or s.szlapka@x-raid.de.