Silk Road Rally is on the way for future - Rustem Khamitov

UFA, 11 July 2016. /Bashinform News Agency, Alexander Smirnov/. On July 10, the Head of Bashkortostan Rustem Khamitov visited a camp of participants of the Silk Road International Rally, which is located near the Ufa International Airport.

The Head of the Region, together with the director of the Silk Road project, the seven-time winner of the "Dakar" rally Vladimir Chagin visited the location of the team, talked with drivers and inspected cars participating in the race.

“We have done everything to ensure that all participants of the race feel themselves at home, be able to get some rest and prepare for tomorrow's stage, which will take place at a remarkable beautiful land - the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Southern Urals mountains”, said Rustem Khamitov welcoming the participants .

The Head of the Republic said that preparations for the stage of the rally in Bashkortostan lasted about three or four months.

According to the Rustem Khamitov, Bashkortostan plans to continue holding large international competitions and sports festivals in 2017-2019.

“We are pleased that the Silk Road has finally arrived in Bashkortostan, as a rally so far. I hope that one of the routes of the Silk Road will pass through the territory of the Republic of Bashkortostan for real,” said Rustem Khamitov. “We now proceed to the construction of "Western China - Kazakhstan - Russia - Europe" road section. A part of this route will go over the republican territory. This will be more than 200 km. The route has been defined already, the construction has been started. After three or four years we will have direct road links with China. So this caravan is on the way for tomorrow’s future.”

This year the Silk Road International Rally is held for the sixth time. The total length of the race from Moscow to Beijing will be a record of 10,735 km, which drivers will have to overcome for two and a half weeks. The route will pass through 15 cities of Russia, Kazakhstan and China. Total, the rally will be attended by more than 130 SUVs and trucks crews from 39 countries.

The second stage of the rally, entitled "Great Spaces of Bashkortostan" was first held in the territory of Bashkortostan. On July 11, participants will proceed towards the eastern direction along the R-240 road and the federal highway M-5. A speed leg with a 4.2 km length will be held in Uchaly region, after which the participants will reach the Chelyabinsk region in the direction of the city of Miass.