13.07.2012

Latvian team’s „RE Autoclub” main pilot’s Toni Gardemeister’s fight for a medal in prestigious rally „Silk Way” ends up with a back injury, but „RE Autoclub” were still participating in „Silk Way”. „RE Autoclub’s” russian athletes Aleksandr Terentiev/Aleksandr Terentiev jr. With „Toyota Land Cruiser 200” finished in 55th place.

Previously we informed, that on Tuesday because of the back injury „flying finn” Toni Gardemeister was forced to withdraw from prestigious rally „Silk Way”. On Wednesday Gardemeister with latvian helmsman Agris Pētersons showed third best result, in overall climbing up to sixth position. On Tuesday many rivals were overtaken, but „RE Autoclub” crew’s way up to the top was stopped by injury of Toni Gardemeister.

On Saturday, 7th of July participants of traditional rally „Silk Way” took off from Moscow’s Red Square to drive almost 4000km and on 13th of July finish their race in Gelendzhik, city close to Sochi. But because of the flooding in area of Krasnodar, decision was made to make distance shorter and finish the race one day earlier in Maikop. The Award ceremony will be just formal, it will be tribute to people who lost their lives.

„In this rally one of our three „RE Autoclub” crews reached the finish. Of course we were hoping that results will be better, but because of the coincidence team’s leader Toni Gardemeister and Anton Melnikov were forced to withdraw from the race,” commented „RE Autoclub’s” director Roberts Elbakjans. „On Friday Gardemeister will go back to Finland, were he will receive more detailed medical examination. We are looking forward to see him back in a crew.”

Next week „RE Autoclub” will participate in World Championship stage – rally „Baja Espana Aragon”. Latvian team in Spain’s offroads will be represented by russian athlete Ilya Kuznecov’s crew.