From sand to snowdrifts: Turkmen pilots in the world’s only snow and ice Baja FIA World Cup for Cross-Country
The crews of the Turkmen racers Muhammetmyrat Gurbanov and Shamyrat Gurbanov, as well as Merdan Toyliyev and Shohrat Toyliyev participate at the first round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies – “Russia – Northern Forest 2019” Baja that started on 14 February in the Republic of Karelia, Russian Federation.
Differ from the traditional rally-raid, baja races on snow and ice surfaces are of special interest to off-road motorsport professionals as such tracks are perfect testing site for racing car cross-country characteristics. More than 200-km long special stages route runs through the protected forests in Sortavala and Suojarvi Karelian districts.
Participants with high score at the debut special stage will choose the starting point for the next day of the tournament. Within two days of competition, baja racers should ovecome more than 550 km of snow tracks.
This year the participants from 15 different countries – the record number of competitors in the history of this Russian race – submitted to compete in the tournament under the auspices of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
“Russia – Northern Forest 2019” Baja will last until February 17.
