8.7.2013
NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
On stage in the first stage
The first stage of a total length of 744 km from Tambov to Volgograd containing two speed trials is successfully behind us.
Aleš Loprais shared emotions of the way and achieved the third place in the stage:
“We experienced an initial baptism of fire with the Queen. The girl still has a lot of childhood diseases. We have finished the trucks literally a minute before the technical acceptances, so we had to count with all of this. Wipers did not work for a while which is an unpleasant thing if you have to go with it over 400 km. Although it was not raining we got through few muddy places that we had to pass through. I sent everything to the navigator to have clean at least my part of windscreen, which is the only solution in terms of safety. We had also a little problem with fuel supply. The car horn and acoustic overtaking device also stuck. The overtaking acoustic device Sentinnel also incredibly roared into the headphones till the finish. But we had to resist. The headache lasted for over 60 km and then the locomotive horn failed. However, we gradually interact with a successor to the Princess and the podium finish surprised the whole team and me pleasantly. We continue in testing the Queen and gradually tune the dampers and the other setups. And we keep going on!”
The crew 306 ended in the first stage on the 14th position.
You can watch both of our crews here:
http://silkwayrally.ru/en/competitors/301/
http://silkwayrally.ru/en/competitors/306/
The map of route is here:
http://vulcain.iritrack.net/tdcom/eviewer/swr2013/
The results are on our web:
http://www.loprais.cz/dakar/cz/vysledky
Or you can find them on the official page of the Silk Way Rally:
http://silkwayrally.ru/en/livetiming2/1/
Tomorrow’s second stage will lead in the footsteps of history around Volgograd. The speed trial 2A will be from 40% consist of sinuous tracks on hard ground, from 50% of sandy tracks and from 10% of dunes. Two new timed sectors in a region the rally will pass through for the first time. This stage has historical significance, as this year is the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad. A particularly important event that will honor the 100s of thousands of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in saving the world from fascism.
The speed trial will feature everything the Silk Way is known for: fast rolling tracks, alternating with tighter sections that on occasion will be rocky. The drivers will have to give this stage their undivided attention. Then the dunes and off-road section where navigation will make the difference.
Then comes a neutralization zone on the motorway that will take the competitors to the start of the 2nd speed trial.
The speed trial 2B (“The joy of driving”) will consist from 35% of sinuous tracks on hard ground and from 65% of fast tracks. The competitors will then have 120 more km of the speed trial on varied and unpredictable terrain, where the drivers and co-drivers will share the same pleasure.
A short 18 km liaison section will lead the field back to Volgograd.
Hopefully the windscreen washers and wipers will work tomorrow and the Queen will quickly grow up…
We wish you successful upcoming working or rather vacation week.