Here is the latest update in the TransSyberia Rally:
Juli 15th, 2008, Tyumen - Omsk, Evening summary
Armin Schwarz and Andreas Schulz capture the second daily victory ahead of Team Qatar and Team Italia
First part: 520 km
Special test: 50 km
Second part: 102 km
The fifth stage of the Transsyberia Rally 2008 powered by Sony Ericsson ran dead straight, kilometer for kilometer eastward from Tjumen to Omsk through Siberia’s hot summer.
Today’s special stage took place in the afternoon about 100 km before Omsk. Scorching heat shimmers over the West Siberian Lowlands. Before the start, the team’s pause in the shade of the sporadic trees to prepare for the 50 km long level stretch.
The German Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia pilot Armin Schwarz was thrilled about the choice of the stretch with its rough and dry course. “I really liked the stretch. I would’ve loved to have stepped on it even more, but we all had to watch out that the engines didn’t overheat,” Team Germany 1 didn’t have to go any faster though, because with 34:15 minutes, they once again achieved the record time of the day. Adel Abdulla and Norbert Lutteri from Team Qatar crossed the finish line with a lag of 55 seconds, narrowly followed by Team Porsche Italia, which placed third with 35:25 minutes.
The three teams, which had been leading in the overall standings up to now, weren’t able to place themselves in the spotlight today as they had done previously. Team Portugal made 18th place with 11:16 minutes behind the day’s winners, the French achieved 16th place and Team Germany 3 finished the special stage 14th. The Portuguese Pedro Gameiro and Pedro Figuereido are however still leading the overall standings. Said Rashi Al Hajri andTim Trenker from Team Middle East advanced to second place, and the Italians Antonio Tognana and Carlo Cassina moved into third position.
Tomorrow’s stage of the Transsyberia Rally powered by Sony Ericsson will lead for 721 kilometers from Omsk to Siberia’s capital Nowosibirsk.
Martin Rowe and Richard Tuthill from Team Porsche Cars Great Britain will not be able to continue the rally. Their Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia burned out completely, the cause of which remains unexplained for now. Both pilots were not only able to leave their vehicle in time, but could also recover their baggage.
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