The Silk Way Rally is launched

21.7.2018

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Only Martin van den Brink's truck was introduced on Friday at the Silk Way Rally ceremony in Russia. Pilot Gert Huzink had to cancel his start at the last minute due to family reasons and leave Russia for home. At this year's Silk Road, only one truck from North Bohemian MKR Technology team will be fighting for win.

            "Gert's reasons and steps are totally logical, and we are all sorry for what happened. Of course, it is a pity that Gert can not show on the Silk Road what he and the truck can do, but it is much more important to be at home where they need him now. We hold our fingers crossed to make things all right soon, "said Mario Kress, head of the engineering team at MKR Technology, but did not want to be more specific about the sudden retreat.  "Machinery and technicians assigned to the Riwald team are coming home as well. Only the support team for Mammoet remains, "said Mario Kress.

            This year's Silk Way Rally goes only to seven stages starting on Saturday in Astrakhan. Tonight, the crews presented themselves in front of the local state opera and the ballet theatre. On Saturday, however, the rally will start with the first round stage with a start and finish in Astrakhan, when the crews make over three hundred kilometres of the two and a half thousand planned. The initial test measures 362 kilometres, of which 311 are timed section. Pilots from the very beginning will head to the steppes and endless fields, where the high grass will test the navigators. At the very end, however, the machinery will face the first sand dunes. 

            The whole rally will culminate next Friday by going to Moscow. North Bohemian truck from MKR Technology will be fighting for the best position. Crew consists of Mammoet Rally Sport team with Martin van den Brink, his son Mitchell and experienced Wouter de Graaf. Last year, they have not done very well at the Silk Way despite the fact, that Martin van den Brink won the 2nd leg. The crew would follow overall third place two years ago. "This year's Silk Way is completely different. Shortening is significant, but the difficulty will be great. With one truck you do not have such support, but Martin is a great fighter and I believe he can succeed. It will be a tough test, "said Mario Kress.

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