In both categories, many possible cars and trucks winners will fight out a hard battle, giving fans a great show throughout the race.

#RoadToXian

SWR2017 CAR’S LINE-UP First to go up on the ceremonial podium on 7th of July are current rally champions Cyril Despres and David Castera from the Peugeot Sport Team, which is also represented this year by Stephane Peterhansel and Sebastien Loeb. Their main rivals will be the MINI cars of Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Vladimir Vasiliev – silver and bronze prize winners on the 6th Silk Way Rally. Among other racing stars there are Bryce Menzies, the American sportsmen and holder of the 4×4 long jump record (115 meters), and the famous Chinese champion Han Wei. The great interest of rally experts is stirred by Christian Lavielle, the experienced rally-raid specialist, who will lead manufacturer Baicmotor Racing Team during this competition. Russia will be represented by the high-skilled Victor Khoroshavtsev from ASPEC Motorsport Team, the Kostorukov brothers from GAZ Raid Sport Team, the all-women crew of Maria Oparina and Taisia Shtaneva, as well as many other famous racers. #SilkWay2017

SWR2017 TRUCK’S LINE-UP In the truck category the main attention is still drawn by the four KAMAZ-master trucks driven by Silk Way Rally winners Ayrat Mardeev, Eduard Nikolaev and Dmitry Sotnikov, together with multiple prize winner Anton Shibalov. The so-called “Blue Armada” will be challenged by the three Petronas De Rooy Iveco crews of Gerard de Rooy and his teammates Artur Ardavichus and Ton van Genugten, as well as by the three Renaults of Mammoet Riwald Rally Sport, represented by Martin van den Brink, Pascal de Baar and Gert Huzink. The Czech Tatra team has entered two trucks with Ales Loprais and Martin Kolomy at the wheel. As for last year, the Belorussian MAZ SPORT-auto team has once again entered three crews, including team leader Siarhei Viazovich. This year the Japanese star Teruhito Sugawara aboard his Hino will also accept the SWR challenge. The Silk Way Rally organizers look forward to seeing all the competitors on July 7 in the Red Square. #SilkWay2017

A large-scale program of rally motorsport development. Following the Silk Way Rally strategy, implemented in 2016, the Organization Committee launched a large-scale program of rally motorsport development rally in host countries, which means integration of local championships into a transcontinental marathon. Last year part of the Silk Way Rally route was completed by cars entered in the Russian national Championship, and in 2017 China Grand Rally competitors will join the rally caravan in Urumqi. Such modifications are intended to promote motorsport on the Chinese market, considered as key area for leading car manufacturers, to give Chinese competitors an opportunity to get acquainted with international sporting regulations and gain valuable experience of participation in global-level competition, as well as to attract extra attention from major Chinese media.

FAITHFULL PARTNERS GAZPROM, RALLY’S MAIN PARTNER Sponsor since the first edition of the Silk Way Rally in 2009, the Russian company PJSC Gazprom is engaged on the event as a main partner for a minimum of two years. TOYOTA « official vehicles » of the organization. Because of their unique design and capabilities, TOYOTA all-terrain vehicles have proved their extraordinary resistance on Russian, Kazakh and Chinese roads during the various reconnaissances and the rally. TOYOTA, which symbolizes technical and technological confidence, has been supplying official Silk Way Rally cars since 2016, to accompany the rally on its roads and wild tracks.