02.02.2012

Latvian team „RE Autoclub” crew Roberts Elbakjans and Alexander Terentyev Jr. with „Moskvitch 408” on Wednesday in 15th Rallye Monte Carlo Historique reached the finnish as 109th crew. In overall the fastest driver from Latvia is Latvenergo ex-director Karlis Mikelsons with „Jaguar XK140 Coupe” from 1956.

Rallye Monte Carlo Historique is held already for 15th time, bringing together more than 300 crews with acient and historic cars. In the list of participants are Elbakjans name with „Moskvitch 408”, four black „Volgas”, and „Jaguar” drivers as well. Our neighborhood countries – Lithuania and Estonia doesn’t take a part in these competitions. From January 28th till February 4th participants should make 14 stages with time limit.

On Wednesday was held the 5th stage, Roberts Elbakjans/Alekxander Terentyev junior after it with „Moskvitch” (1974) took the 107th place and for one position faster was famous Latvian femile driver Karline Stale with „Jaguar E Coupe 4.2.” (1968). Stala teammate, Russian driver Ilya Kashin with the same model „Jaguar” took 14th place. The best performance from black „Volga” showed Janis Metmanis. He is on 91st place with the „GAZ Volga M21” (1960).

From more than 300 crews on the next start line stayed just 236 cars. Continuing the next stage of rally on Thursday Valencia area.

„If previous distances was just long driving distances, then on Wednesday started a real rally. Although it was foggy, snowing and on the road was ice, we still tryed to drive in time limits, till we stopped the car on one side of the road - it stopped half meter from cliff... On the road there where a lot of chrashed cars. Together with my partner we decided to slow down and don’t make any risk with our car,” in a phonecall explaned „RE Autoclub” main manager and pilot Roberts Elbakjans. „We are really glad to enjoy rally, the mehanics did a good job already at home. All moskvitch resource we can not use because the road is with ice and in some corners we are forced to go with 30km/h. We are happy to see next to us other Latvian teams as well - not only with „Volga” but also with „Jaguar”. It is interesting for me to debate with Karlis Mikelsons during this rally. He has a big experence and he shows really good performance with his „Jaguar””.