21.06.2005 RIA Novosti
The first contestant in the 2006 Expedition Trophy, a car race scheduled along the route from Murmansk in northwestern Russia to Vladivostok in the Far East, next February 23-March 8, was selected in Dmitrov, a town near Moscow, today.
The Off-Road Wolves raced in the first Trophy rally this year. The Wolves outdid the other six crews in a 24-hour race. The crews had to overcome obstacles and cover special segments on dirt buggies.
The other two qualifying races will also be held in Dmitrov, while the participants of the rally's final stage will be selected in races to take place in various Russian regions and Ukraine.
The organizers have thereby found an alternative to a once popular international off-road rally, The Camel Trophy. Those jeep rallies used to be held in exotic destinations across the world.
Soviet and Russian Camel Trophy contestants performed decently and often won the race in different nominations, most of all for their team spirit.
Some of the Expedition Trophy organizers participated in Camel Trophy races, and their experience came in handy in organizing and holding the first rally of this kind in Russia in the winter and spring of 2005.
The race started in Murmansk, went through 14 cities and reached Russia's Pacific coast near Vladivostok.
The route goes through the Kola Peninsula, Karelia, Central Russia, the Volga Area, the Urals, Siberia, the Baikal area and the Far East.
The crew comprises two men and one woman. The main race contestants will be selected via a series of qualification events that are to finish November 8.
A total of 60 crews will race. After the first phase of the race, the crews are expected to form six-member, two-car teams. The organizers will provide the cars and maintenance equipment.
The teams with the worst results will be forced to drop out of the race. The team that crosses the finish line intact first wins and gets to keep the cars it used in the race as prizes.
Mikhail Smirnov
