Whereas the Silk Means Rally will transcend Russian borders for the primary time since 2019, China won’t be a part of it because the 2024 route will merely cross between Russia and Mongolia. In line with the Federation of Car and Motorbike Sports activities of China, the nation’s cities that the rally was speculated to cross have but to return to pre-COVID enterprise exercise, sparking the withdrawal.
Tomsk in Siberia will stay the host metropolis for the race begin on 5 July, however it would now finish on 15 July within the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. Initially, the ultimate leg was scheduled to be in Khorgos alongside China’s border with Kazakhstan. The primary 4 phases shall be in Russia whereas the final seven are in Mongolia; after Tomsk, the rally heads via Barnaul, Gorno-Altaysk, and Kosh-Agach earlier than crossing into the Gobi Desert. Even with the modified route, the race will nonetheless retain its authentic distance of roughly 5,500 kilometres with 2,500 in Selective Sections.
China is predicted to return for the 2025 race.
“Ulaanbaatar is among the most vibrant and vibrant cities, and I’m glad that the Silk Means Rally shouldn’t be solely returning to Mongolia, however can even have a Ceremonial end right here,” mentioned Vladimir Chagin, seven-time Dakar Rally winner and present Silk Means undertaking director. “Spectators and followers will discover a actual sports activities pageant, the place they may witness the heroes of our marathon rally who’ve simply accomplished the complete distance.
“I wish to thank the Authorities of Mongolia for his or her help and participation in organizing the Silk Means Rally. Our competitors reveals our collective functionality.”
The Silk Means Rally has lengthy had phases outdoors of Russia and launched Mongolia in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic compelled the race to be confined inside Russia when it was revived in 2021 and continued via 2023. At one level, organisers plotted an enormous route for the 2022 race that ran via 9 nations together with Qatar, Iran, Turkey, and Syria, although this was dropped as a consequence of impracticality and maybe apparent geopolitical penalties.
Race officers will start scouting the route in April.
The race is the fifth spherical of the 2024 Russian Rally-Raid Championship. Siarhei Viazovich is the defending total winner.
