Silk Way Rally New Element – Silk Way Snow Journey
The first ever snowmobile rally-raid will take place at the end of February on the most exciting snowy tracks of Tatarstan!
For more than thirteen years the Silk Way Rally Directorate has been holding events along the most amazing routes of Eurasia: the competitors visited the steppes and deserts, overcame fords and dunes, fought to the limit under the sizzling sun. But in 2023 the Directorate discovers a new element and announces the International Rally-Raid on snowmobiles called Silk Way Snow Journey.
The competition will be held from February 22 to February 25, 2023 according to the snowmobile enduro discipline rules. Competitors will have to overcome three special stages with a total distance of about 300 kilometers. The route of the rally-raid on snowmobiles will be laid over cross-country without previously prepared snowmobile tracks. The task for the riders is to pass the special stages in the maximum allowed time and reach the finish line opening all the control points using the navigation system in the sequence provided by the Organizer. Thus, riders will not only fight against time, but also solve navigation tasks.
Depending on the type of vehicle, the competitors will be divided into five scoring categories that will provide an equal and exciting fight for both professionals and beginner riders.
The following scoring categories are established for the competitors:
- Snowmobiles Enduro (among men, sport)
- PRO turbo+ class: men and women on snowmobiles manufactured in any country with turbo engines from 1000 cm³ inclusive and above;
- PRO turbo class: men and women on snowmobiles manufactured in any country with turbo engines up to 1000 cm³;
- PRO+ class: men and women on snowmobiles manufactured in any country with engines from 1000 cm³ inclusive and above;
- PRO class: men and women on snowmobiles manufactured in any country with engines up to 1000 cm³.
The Silk Way Snow Journey route was prepared by the experienced specialists of the Silk Way Rally Directorate, and it fully complies with the high safety standards of the Russian Motorcycle Federation. As at the summer rally, highly qualified emergency personnel will always be ready to help in any situation.
The rally bivouac will be located in Naberezhnye Chelny at the Naikom Arena. This is a world-class technical sports stadium including a large area with a well-developed infrastructure. The motorcycle racing track is equipped with all the necessary amenities so that riders and visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of extreme sports and spend time actively: the bivouac will have a Service Park area for competitors, catering will be organized in a restaurant and food trucks. There also will be a recreation area with a show program and entertainment around the fire. Viewpoints for the spectators will be provided so as not to miss the best moments of the competition. The Rally Directorate also thought about the media representatives – a warm Press Center will be open during the event days, the journalists will be provided with access to photo/video points on the track, and daily news releases with the best shots and moments of the past day will be available. The start of accreditation will be announced later.
Any snowmobile owner can challenge the snow and take part in the Silk Way Snow Journey, and for experienced riders this is a unique chance to push the usual boundaries and discover a new dimension of the International Project Silk Way Rally. A nice bonus is a prize fund of one and a half million rubles divided between the top five fastest riders in the overall standings!