17.04.2013

International cross-country rally team from Latvia „RE Autoclub” continues co-operation with Finnish drivers – Tapio Suominen, Jouni Ampuja, Markku Hurskainen and the new eighteen-years old talent from Latvia - Reinis Trups. From April 17th – 20th „RE Autoclub” team will take part in the second Russian Championship event „Gold of Kagan” in Astrakhan region.

During the second Russian Championship „Gold of Kagan” all participants will need to overcome more than 1100km long distance (800km will be rally stage) full with sands and dunes. First „RE Autoclub” crew will be piloted by Juha Kankkunen Driving Academy leading instructor Jouni Ampuja, that experienced his first debute in cross-country rally Russian Baja „Northern Forest” (2nd place in overall). Ampuja’s co-driver will be one of the most perspective new racers Reinis Trups from Latvia – this crew will race under the No.216. Tapio Suominen/Markku Hurskainen (No.217) duet debuted and was in the second place in overall at Russian championship’s last stage in Latvia „Riga Baja 2012”.

„”Gold of Kagan” for our team will be a serious test and preperation time for one of the most popular and serious international rally „Silk Way 2013”, that will take place in the beginning of July in Russia. In co-operation with Finnish sportsmen we have made improvements for the racing cars in snow, gravel and forest roads so far. During this competition we will do our best to improve and prepare sports cars for racing in the steppe and dunes, that will be in the most of the rally stages in „Silk Way 2013””, emphasises team director Roberts Elbakjans. „We are proud for Reinis Trups – the new talent from Latvia, joining our team for these competitions. Together with the President from Latvian Automobile Federation – Janis Naglis, Reinis first debuted in cross-country competitions in 2012, when they triumphed in the only cross-country rally in Latvia „Riga Baja 2012”. We believe that the big Reinis willpower and Finnish pilots previous experience, in cooperation with our racing team’s knowledges in rally competitions, will help to build solid foundation for the development of new Latvian sportsmen generation!”

The start for all 53 crews of „Gold of Kagan” from Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Finland and Latvia will be given in 17th April at 7pm in the Lenin’s Square. All results will be available on-line http://www.resac.ru/monitoring.php?race_id=123