- Trans-oriental Rally
The Trans-oriental Rally was a motor rally which started in
St. Petersburg on June 12, 2008 and ends next to theGreat Wall of China near Beijing on June 28, 2008.Overview
It was an alternative to the Lisboa
2008 Dakar Rally Raid which was cancelled due to fears of terrorism. Among the drivers on the race isFrancois Delecour , two-time winner of theMonte Carlo Rally . There were 16 legs planned:
* Leg 1 - St. Peters -Rogatchevo (157 km)
* Leg 2 - Rogatchevo -Petrovsky
* Leg 3 - Petrovsky -Yelabuga
* Leg 4 - Yelabuga -Mrakovo
* Leg 5 - Mrakovo -Bogotse
* Leg 6 - Bogotse -Arkalik
* Leg 6 - Arkalik -Botakara (viaAstana )
* Leg 8 - Botakara -Ayaguz
* Leg 9 - Ayaguz -Karamay , China
* Leg 10 - Karamay –Turfan (rest day after this leg)
* Leg 11 - Turfan -Hami
* Leg 12 - Hami -Quinguan
* Leg 13 - Quinguan -Alxa Youqi
* Leg 14 - Alxa Youqi -Bayanhot
* Leg 15 - Bayanhot -Hohhot
* Leg 16 - Hohhot - BeijingFatalaties
To date there have been two fataties on the race:
* Chinese driver Xu Lang, June 17 (from injuries sustained a day earlier) [ [http://www.transorientale.com/news/article.php?id=96 Official site] ]
* French motorcyclist Philippe Tonin, June 17The latter fatality led the Russian
Kamaz team to withdraw. [ [http://www.motorstv.com/transorientale-diary/19062008/kamaz-pulls-out-transorientale Kamaz pulls out of the Transorientale | Motors TV ] ]References
* [http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=277506&FS=CCR Motorsport.com article]
External links
* [http://www.transorientale.com www.transorientale.com]
* [http://patriciarally.blogspot.com/ Weblog focusing on the performance of motorcycle participant Patricia Watson-Miller]
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