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Northern Forest: 33 crews on the entry-list three weeks before the start.
On February 26th-28th Russia will host the 2nd round of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas - "Baja Russia - Northern Forest 2010". With three weeks left until the start of the event there’re 33 crews on the entry list.
Seeded first among them is the winner of the FIA International Cup 2009 Boris Gadasin with his regular co-driver Vladimir Demyanenko. Gadasin’s former co-driver-turned-raid driver himself Alexander Mironenko will start his second season in the driver’s seat, and will be aiming for a podium result. Winners of both World and International FIA Cups in the Production category Artem Varentsov and Roman Elagin will also take part in the competition.
Unsurprisingly the international status of the competition has attracted many participants from other countries. Crews from Hungary, Croatia, Ukraine, Latvia, Italy and Poland have already sent their entries. Some other foreign drivers are also planning their participation, but with one week left before the entries close let’s not rush in conclusions. However, already now we can introduce some of the participants.
Polish driver Krzysztof Holowczyc is famous not only in rallying, where he’s won his national championship on numerous occasions and has become the European champion, but also in raids: fifth place in Dakar 2009 speaks for itself. In 2009 his one-off appearance in WRC marked the best ever result for a Polish driver in international rallying, when he finished sixth on his home event.
Croatian Daniel Saskin has also seen successes in rallying, as he was the Croatian champion, while his co-driver Damir Bruner devoted a quarter of a century to circuit racing.
Italian driver Riccardo Garosci is well-known not only in motorsport which is a hobby for him, but in his professional life as well, where he is a politician, a member of the European parliament and now also a counselor to the minister of education of Italy.
Besides the FIA Cup and a round of the Russian Championship, the Baja Russia - Northern Forest will be also an event in the Latvian Championship. Last year participants from Latvia proved to be dangerous rivals, so the competition promises to be close, making the action more interesting.
Meanwhile in Kiev, on the Artglass plant, specially for the Russian Baja the unique prize cups were cast. Each cup is hand-made, which will make it a great reminder of a beautiful fight and successful finish for all prize-winners of the Baja Russia - Northern Forest.
And in the Saint-Petersburg region the route is undergoing final preparations. Fortunately, this year there will be no lack of snow as big snowfalls and constant frosts have completely demolished gossips about the global warming, and hence will present the participants with exciting adventures in a real Russian winter.
2010/02/08 | 21:58 CET | Editor: MR/HS/NF
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