17.04.2012

Latvian team „RE Autoclub” pilot - worldly known Finnish rally pilot Toni Gardemeister will participate in Russian rally raid championship’s 2nd stage - „The gold of Kagan” from 19th till 22nd of April. Rally raid will be held in Astrakhan steppe surrounding area. It will be a great training before the upcoming Dakar series „Silk way” in July.

First „Flying Finn” Toni Gardemeister debut as “RE Autoclub” team pilot was on March in Italy during „Italian Baja” rally raid, where together with latvian co-driver Agris Petersons they took 5th place. In first stages they where on 3rd position, but because of some technical problems, they lost two positions and finished as 5th crew.

Russian championship started in February in Belgorod. „The gold of Kagan” will be the 2nd stage. The race is named after Turick King - Kagan from the early middle ages. The competition for the Kagan gold will last for four days, with total distance 1100km and rally stage - 800km. Most of the distance is located in dangerous Russian steppe. Rally official opening ceremony and first Super Special stage is intended on April 19th at 17:00 local time. Gardemeister/Petersons will participate under the number 205.

„This is already the second rally raid together with Toni Gardemeister. We are realy glad to have such as successful cooperation with Toni Gardemeister since first rally raid in Italy. The start in Astrakhan is good opportunity to train before more important copmetition in July that will be held in Russia – Dakar series „Silk way””, says RE Autoclub team director Roberts Elbakjans. „We are ready to contribute maximum effort to compete for the better result, with continually upgrades for the car that pilot Toni Gardemeister could fully use car and achieve maximum good results for every race.”

Toni Gardemeister from 1996 till 2010 has participated in 113 WRC stages as team driver for „Seat”, „Mitsubishi”, „Skoda” and „Suzuki”, so the Russian roads and off-roads is unfamiliar for him.

RE Autoclub pilot Toni Gardemeister is honest:„I have no ideas what to expect in Russia. I have been in Russia last year, but it was in Moscow in one rally show. I suppose that off-roads in Astrakhan is totaly different. It should be real desert rally. I can promise that I and whole my team will put a big effort to reach the finish line with the best possible results. Rally raid is new experience for me. I am learning step by step. „Italian Baja” was my first experience, till the last stage we were in high 3rd place. What is sure - this rally raid is important experience before „Silk way”.