MINI ALL4 Racing family perfectly placed after Silk Way Rally’s spectacular opening Super Special Stage.

Press release

09 July 2016

 

MINI ALL4 Racing family perfectly placed after Silk Way
Rally’s spectacular opening Super Special Stage.

 

Fifteen seconds cover top 12 finishers – four MINI ALL4 Racing inside
top eight. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) comfortable in second place

 

Munich. The sixth edition of the Silk Way rally
started in spectacularly style with a timed Super Special Stage (SSS)
to determine the next day’s First Leg starting order. The spectators
at Kazan, location for SSS, were treated to high speed action as each
competitor strived to beat the clock.

 

The MINI ALL4 Racing duo of Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) and Konstantin
Zhiltsov (RUS) were the first of the MINI ALL4 Racing family to roll
up to the start line. They finished the early evening race in second
position, just four seconds off from taking the number one slot.

 

MINI ALL4 Racing #103 of Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) and co-pilot Timo
Gottschalk (GER) were fourth from the start line and retained this
position at the end. Needless to say Al Rajhi was in good spirits
after the prologue.

 

Al Rajhi: “The ground was very soft. I think everyone was surprised
at how soft it was. We tried to stay in top five for the start
tomorrow and succeeded. My plan is to push for tomorrow and learn at
the same time. This is the first time for me in this race but I know
we have a very good car in the MINI ALL4 Racing and a very good team
and we can fight hard to win this race.

 

Harry Hunt (GB) and Andreas Schulz (GER) also put in a determined
effort and were rewarded with seventh place and just eight seconds of
the lead car. “It was good,” said Hunt, before smiling and adding:“
Short and sweet…

 

“It was a small amount of driving compared to what we have in store
for the next two weeks. There were plenty of jumps for the spectators
and they seemed to like it. This is only the start and it is such a
long rally. To finish would be a result but obviously we are looking
to do well… top ten, hopefully more. We’ll see.

 

The fourth of the MINI ALL4 Racing family to cross the finish line
was that of Aidyn Rakhimbayev (KAZ) / Anton Nikolaev (RUS) in eighth.
Fellow Astana Motorsport crew Bauyrzhan Issabayev (KAZ) / Vladimir
Demyanenko (RUS) in MINI ALL4 Racing #109 was the last of the family
to place and did so in 12th.

 

With the five MINI ALL4 Racing all completing Leg 1 (SSS) within the
top 12 positions, the scene for the first major rally section (Leg 2)
Kazan-to-Ufa is set to be an exciting one.

 

For further information about the Silk Way Rally 2016, please visit:
www.silkwayrally.com

Silk Way Rally 2016: MINI ALL4 Racing

 

 

Race calendar: 2016 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.

 

19/02 – 22/02 Baja Russia
02/04 – 7/04 Abu Dhabi Desert
Challenge
17/04 – 22/04 Sealine Cross-Country Rally Qatar
23/06 – 26/06 Italian Baja
22/07 – 24/07 Baja Aragón
11/08
– 14/08 HunGarian Baja

25/08 – 28/08 Baja Poland

03/10 – 08/10 Rallye Oilibya du Maroc
21/10 – 23/10 Baja
Portalegre 500

 

Find reports, photos and videos in high resolution of previous MINI
ALL4 Racing activity on the BMW Media Website by clicking here.