Silk Way Rally 2016: 5 MINI ALL4 Racing to challenge Russia-to-China trade route.

Steve · Jul 8, 2016

Silk Way Rally 2016 â€“ five MINI ALL4 Racing to challenge famous Russia-to-China trade route. (press release)

07.07.2016

10,734 km, three countries and two continents are just three challenges five MINI ALL4 Racing and their crews will have to face in two weeks of long distance rally action.

Munich. MINI ALL4 Racing cars are set to compete for the first time at the Silk Way Rally. The Silk Way Rally takes place across some of the most spectacular landscape on the planet as this former trade route winds its way from Russia to China.

The sixth edition of the Silk Way Rally starts with a podium ceremony to be held at Moscowâ€™s Red Square on 8 July. The race officially starts with Leg 1 on 9 July as the competitors head east to Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, and finish (Leg 15) in Beijing, China 24 July.

The route from Russia to China will cover 10,734 km, of which over 4,000 km will be special stages. All manner of terrain will be encountered en route, from soil to gravel, to rocks and dunes. Altitude will also play a part in the race; some sections will take place at 2,500 metres elevation.

MINI has risen to the challenge of the Silk Way Rally with the entry of five MINI ALL4 Racing prepared do battle against extreme arduous conditions and an international line up of competitors.

The MINI ALL4 Racing family consists of five pairs of experienced drivers and co-drivers. For X-raid Team, Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) and co-pilot Timo Gottschalk (GER) are looking to capitalise on their recent run of good form. Presently they hold second place in the 2016 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies. Joining them on the start line is fellow X-raid Team pairing of Harry Hunt (GB) and Andreas Schulz (GER). Although a relatively new pairing, this crew completed the 2016 Dakar Rally with a well-deserved 10th place.

Three other MINI ALL4 Racing are also set to compete at the Silk Way Rally. Under the banner of Astana Motorsport there are Aidyn Rakhimbayev (KAZ) / Anton Nikolaev (RUS) and Bauyrzhan Issabayev (KAZ) / Vladimir Demyanenko (RUS).

Rakhimbayev / Nikolaev also have Dakar experience in a MINI ALL4 racing, when they finished the 2015 edition in ninth. Issabayev and co-driver Demyanenko have no previous race experience at the controls of a MINI ALL4 Racing, but Issabayevâ€™s previous Dakar events will no doubt stand him in good stead over the distance of the Silk Way Rally. Hoping to make use of local knowledge in Russian territory and wins in the FIA World Cup will be the massively Dakar and FIA World Cup experienced duo of Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) driving the fifth MINI ALL4 Racing in the colours of G-Energy Team.

The two week-long Silk Way Rally is without doubt a tough event and almost mirrors the extreme racing conditions to be had at the Dakar Rally. Despite unknown road and weather conditions as the race crosses two continents, the five MINI ALL4 Racing crews are more than ready to take on whatever they come across because of their vast experience.

Of course, it also helps knowing the MINI ALL4 Racing is one of the most durable and reliable long distance rally cars ever to be produced â€“ four consecutive Dakar titles (2012-15) and second in 2016 reinforces this. Add to this four FIA World Cup championship titles and you can understand why the MINI ALL4 Racing is a highly respected competition machine.

Performance and reliability doesnâ€™t come easy, but MINI achieved this very early because of its commitment to ongoing development. Indeed, because of the distance involved and the range of terrain to be encountered, the Silk Way Rally is a perfect testing ground for MINI and the famed MINI ALL4 Racing â€“ especially as the cross-country rally world is already focussed on Dakar Rally 2017.

For further information about the Silk Way Rally 2016, please visit: www.silkwayrally.com

Silk Way Rally 2016: MINI ALL4 Racing line up:

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4

Driver Co-driver # Team

Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) 101 G-Energy Team

Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) Timo Gottschalk (GER) 103 X-raid Team

Harry Hunt (GB) Andreas Schulz (GER) 105 X-raid Team

Aidyn Rakhimbayev (KAZ) Anton Nikolaev (RUS) 106 Astana Motorsport

Bauyrzhan Issabayev (KAZ) Vladimir Demyanenko (RUS) 109 Astana Motorsport

Race calendar: 2016 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.

19/02 â€“ 22/02 Baja Russia
02/04 â€“ 7/04 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
17/04 â€“ 22/04 Sealine Cross-Country Rally Qatar
23/06 â€“ 26/06 Italian Baja
22/07 â€“ 24/07 Baja AragÃ³n
11/08 â€“ 14/08 HunGarian Baja
25/08 â€“ 28/08 Baja Poland
03/10 â€“ 08/10 Rallye Oilibya du Maroc
21/10 â€“ 23/10 Baja Portalegre 500
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Steve · Jul 18, 2016

Four MINI ALL4 Racing inside top six with six stages remaining. (press release)

18 July 2016

Silk Way Rally 2016 â€“ Four MINI ALL4 Racing inside top six with six stages remaining. Al Rajhi third overall after Stage 9. Yesterdayâ€™s Stage 8 also saw Al Rajhi secure his first Silk Way stage win.

Vasilyev sits at number four position. Hunt fires back into top ten and is now fifth overall. Rakhimbayev is sixth and Issabayev eighth.

Munich. The first two stages (St 7 and 8) within Chinese territory produced close racing over the weekend and also gave the MINI ALL4 Racing family reason to celebrate on Sunday evening after Stage 8, when the MINI ALL4 Racing crew of Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) and Timo Gottschalk (GER) took the stage win.

The smile on Al Rajhiâ€™s face didnâ€™t tell the complete story, though. His win came after a fierce day of racing through long grass and harsh surface tracks.

â€œIt was a difficult stage, very rough, but we push and push,â€ said Al Rajhi. â€œWe held a good position from the start to the finish. We attack and not stop. But it was very rough and it was very high temperature for the engine in the grass, and the air-conditioning was struggling and so my drinking bottle was emptied very early. So, a good result really.â€

Todayâ€™s Stage 9 of 719.55 km, Urumqi to Hami, didnâ€™t net Al Rajhi // Timo Gottschalk the same winning result. They got stuck for a short while and also had a problem locating one of the waypoints. Al Rajhi commented that the stage was fast and very bumpy and was better suited to buggies. However, a solid fourth place at the end of the stage places them in third place overall.

Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) in MINI ALL4 Racing #103 also put in exceptional performances over the weekend. Stage 7 saw a result of third place, and fifth in ST 8. Todayâ€™s Stage 9 saw the Russian duo finish in sixth place to see them go fourth overall.

Harry Hunt (GB) and Andreas Schulz (GER) in MINI ALL4 Racing #105 did exactly what they threatened to do after the official Friday rest day by breaking into the top ten group. At the end of Sundayâ€™s Stage 8 and a sixth place finish, the pair had settled into sixth position overall.

Stage 9 brought another good effort from the Englishman and the experienced co-driver Schulz. The stage line was crossed in a fine fifth place despite time lost also getting stuck in sand. Hunt // Schulz have now moved up one position to fifth overall.

Mini ALL4 RACING #106 of Aidyn Rakhimbayev (KAZ) / Anton Nikolaev (RUS) continues to maintain good pace with top ten finishes in the stages. Presently they are the fourth of the four MINI ALL4 Racing bunched in the upper tier of competitors and hold sixth overall after Stage 9.

Bauyrzhan Issabayev (KAZ) / Vladimir Demyanenko (RUS) in MINI ALL4 Racing #109 are also in the thick of the action for top ten placements. St 7 and St 8 netted 10th and eighth placings respectively. Todayâ€™s Stage 9 finished with them in 11th place and they are now eighth overall.

Tomorrowâ€™s Stage 10, Hami to Dunhuang, will see the competitors reach 2000 mt in elevation and face tracks that are littered with rocks.

For further information about the Silk Way Rally 2016, please visit: www.silkwayrally.com

Silk Way Rally 2016: MINI ALL4 Racing Overall Classification after Stage 9

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6

Position Driver Co-driver # Team Time

3rd Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) Timo Gottschalk (GER) 103 X-raid Team +00h:27m:22s

4th Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) 101 G-Energy Team +00:40:25s

5th Harry Hunt (GB) Andreas Schulz (GER) 105 X-raid Team +01:19:45

6th Aidyn Rakhimbayev (KAZ) Anton Nikolaev (RUS) 106 Astana Motorsport +01:22:58

8th Bauyrzhan Issabayev (KAZ) Vladimir Demyanenko (RUS) 109 Astana Motorsport +02:01:48

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Steve · Jul 22, 2016

Al Rajhi retains third overall after Stage 10 in the Chinese desert. Five MINI ALL4 Racing inside top eight.

20 July 2016

Silk Way Rally 2016 â€“ Al Rajhi retains third overall after Stage 10 in the Chinese desert. Five MINI ALL4 Racing inside top eight. Todayâ€™s Stage 11 cancelled due to sandstorm.

Todayâ€™s MINI ALL4 Racing family plan to push hard for leading positions postponed until tomorrow after Stage 11 is cancelled. MINI ALL4 Racing crews fill positions three to sixth overall.

Munich. Hot and dusty racing continues to cause problems for competitors in Chinese territory as the Silk way Rally progresses east across the Gansu desert region.

Tuesdayâ€™s Stage 10 (19-07-2016) was the last day an official stage result was given because todayâ€™s 609.66 km Stage 11 had to be cancelled. Support aircraft were grounded due to a sandstorm in the region.

The Silk Way Rally entourage and frustrated car and truck competitors then had to make their way in convoy to the Jiayuguan bivouac in preparation for tomorrowâ€™s Stage 12.

Stage 10â€™s 525.24 km route proved to be a good one for Harry Hunt (GB) and Andreas Schulz (GER) in MINI ALL4 Racing #105. They completed this stage in third place to position them third overall.

â€œIt was a good clean stage with no real problem. Iâ€™m happy,â€ said Hunt. It was quite bumpy in the middle and my neck and arm are still quite bad. But it was fast and so the heat didnâ€™t really cause a problem even though it was still 45-degrees. I didnâ€™t think we would get to our present position after getting stuck in the first, second proper stages. There are still some big days to go so... who knows?â€

The MINI ALL4 Racing (#103) crew of Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) and Timo Gottschalk (GER) completed Stage 10 in fifth. Presently they are still the highest placing of the MINI ALL4 Racing family in third position overall.

Al Rajhi: â€œIt was a good track even though it was very bumpy and, at 190 km exactly, we lost the power steering. But we made it ok to drive the last kilometres, and finally we do it well and not lose too much time, maybe three or four minutes.â€

MINI ALL4 Racing #103 of Russian pairing Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (X-raid Team) are relentless in their consistent pace and retain fourth overall after completing Stage 10 in sixth.

Stage 10 saw the two Astana Motorsport MINI ALL4 Racing crews cross the stage finish point in tandem. Aidyn Rakhimbayev (KAZ) / Anton Nikolaev (RUS) completed in seventh. With just two seconds time difference, Bauyrzhan Issabayev (KAZ) / Vladimir Demyanenko (RUS) in MINI ALL4 Racing #109 followed up for eighth place. Rakhimbayev sits in sixth place overall with Issabayev at position eight.

Weather conditions allowing, Stage 12 will see the MINI ALL4 Racing crews taking part in the longest stage of the Chinese route. A total of 666.92 km will cover many dunes and sand sections before moving lower into the valley area and onto hard-packed terrain.
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Steve · Jul 23, 2016

Al Rahji takes penultimate Stage victory. Four of the five MINI ALL4 Racing crews retain the top five positions overall.

Press release

23 July 2016

Silk Way Rally 2016 â€“ Al Rahji takes penultimate Stage victory. Four of the five MINI ALL4 Racing crews retain the top five positions overall.

Stage 14 of the gruelling Silk Way Rally brought a well-earned victory for the MINI ALL4 Racing team. Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) and Timo Gottschalk (GER) piloted the #103 vehicle across the finish line in first position to maintain their second place position in the overall standings.

Munich. The penultimate Stage of the 2016 Silk Way Rally saw the MINI ALL4 Racing crews complete the Wuhai-Hohhot route. The 754km leg was mainly sandy terrain with fast tracks, but the dunes towards the end of the route were a challenge for even the most experienced drivers.

Speaking after their Stage 14 victory, Al Rahji said: â€œThe Silk Way has been a good rally â€“ weâ€™ve improved a lot and have learnt a lot of different roads. The car is strong and performed well, thatâ€™s the most important thing. It has been a very hard rally and some of the stages were very tough. But, Iâ€™d definitely like to come back!â€

â€œItâ€™s been a hard rally with some difficult navigation,â€ added Gottschalk. â€œThe Silk Way has some very demanding stages, and compared with the Dakar, it is a very big adventure. I expected that there would be some long days for sure, but I didnâ€™t expect the stages to be so hard.â€

Meanwhile, the MINI ALL4 Racing crew of Harry Hunt (GB) and Andreas Schulz (GER) brought their #105 across the line in third place. The result has enabled them to retain their fourth position in the overall standings.

â€œIâ€™m so happy to have achieved fourth in the Silk Way Rally â€“ Iâ€™m over the moon and couldnâ€™t have hoped for anything more,â€ said Hunt. â€œItâ€™s a great rally but it was a lot harder than I expected and I personally found it harder than the Dakar. The stages were longer, the liaisons were longer and the days were longer. The heat was difficult to cope with but some of the scenery was fantastic!â€

The Russian duo of Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (X-raid Team) completed Stage 14 in fourth place and were the third MINI ALL4 Racing team home today. Their result means they maintain third spot in the standings overall.

â€œThe Silk Way has been a good rally,â€ said Zhiltsov. â€œToday was a good race, not too difficult, although the dunes section was tricky.â€

Aidyn Rakhimbayev (KAZ) and Anton Nikolaev (RUS) of MINI ALL4 Racing #106 completed the 14th Stage in seventh place, while Bauyrzhan Issabayev (KAZ) and Vladimir Demyanenko (RUS) finished in 26th place. Rakhimbayev completes the rally in fifth place overall with Issabayev in tenth.

Rakhimbayev said: â€œIâ€™m happy and pleased with my achievements. I enjoyed contesting the Silk Way Rally, it was an interesting challenge.â€

For further information about the Silk Way Rally 2016, please visit: www.silkwayrally.com

Silk Way Rally 2016: MINI ALL4 Racing Overall Classification after Stage 14

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6

Position Driver Co-driver # Team Time

2nd Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) Timo Gottschalk (GER) 103 X-raid Team +00h:25m:51s

3rd Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) 101 G-Energy Team +00h:49m:46s

4th Harry Hunt (GB) Andreas Schulz (GER) 105 X-raid Team +01h:54m:47s

5th Aidyn Rakhimbayev (KAZ) Anton Nikolaev (RUS) 106 Astana Motorsport +02h:12m:45s

10th Bauyrzhan Issabayev (KAZ) Vladimir Demyanenko (RUS) 109 Astana Motorsport +05h:08m:09s

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