The 16-kilometre special, which was scheduled for tomorrow’s 7th and last stage of the 2011 Silk Way Rally, has been cancelled by the organisers due to a sudden rise in water levels, which has rendered the terrain impassable after strong thunderstorms affected the area at the beginning of the week. Competitors will therefore be transferred to Sochi.
The usual route reconnaissance, which was carried out yesterday by the organiser’s openers, found there had been a sudden rise in water levels on the bed of the Shakhe river, which rendered impassable the route of the last stage in the 2011 Silk Way Rally. After reconnoitring the terrain for the 2nd time this afternoon, openers saw that water levels had not fallen enough and the terrain of the 16-kilometre-long special was still impassable.
The competitors’ safety is paramount for the organisers, so they have decided to cancel the entire timed sector of the 7th stage. Therefore, competitors will be transferred across the 360 km between Maykop and Sochi. The classifications of the 3rd edition of the Silk Way Rally will be made official upon arrival. The final podium ceremony will take place in front of the Krasnaya Grand Hotel, starting with the first car at 3 pm.