The administrative verifications and scrutineering of the 8th Master Rallye took place today in Saint Petersburg. All the competitors took their marks in magnificent sunshine. 38 motorbikes, 46 cars and 6 trucks will take off tomorrow from 9 a.m. local time from Blue Bridge square, in the heart of the former capital of the Tsars.
Impossible to get away without them. Compulsory passage prior to each departure; scrutineering and administrative verifications of the 8th Master Rallye therefore took place today in Saint Petersburg a few metres from the Gulf of Finland and in magnificent sunshine. However the competitors and members of the organization had very little time to take advantage of the landscape as the day’s schedule was heavy. Fuel, checking entries, licences, installing GPS beacons, radio, distribution of rations, regulations, road book, medical green light, then thorough inspection of the cars, motorbikes and trucks: the traditional administrative verification and scrutineering monopolised all the participants during the greater part of the day. With good humour and conviviality, the master-word of the event, as its director, René Metge, indicated «The members of the organization as well as the competitors know that I am very keen on these principles. Oldcomers are asked to spread the word to newcomers: it is already going very well! I hope that the rally will take place pleasantly and sportingly, that everyone will help each other. Nobody is here to
sulk!»
Big favourite to his own succession in the car category, does Jean-Louis Schlesser have an opponent capable of contesting the superiority of his buggy? «Jean-Louis is without any doubt in a position of strength, stated René Metge, there are specials where he is very likely to make a hole quickly. But on the Master Rallye, driving and navigation are equal. You never get completely lost but you can lose quite a lot of time. And no-one is guaranteed not to have a
hitch...» More or less declared outsiders, Khrol’s, Rakitianski’s and Misslin’s Mitsubishis, Strugo’s and Magnaldi’s Mercedes or Tinseau’s Pro-Truck will aim at a place on the podium. And maybe
better... «Watch Andrea Mayer, warned René Metge, she has always been very good in the Master and could surprise us all.» This German, used to the rally on a motorbike, is setting off this time in a Mitsubishi.
As for the motorbike race, it would appear to be particularly open in the absence of factory racing drivers. «Without them, analysed René Metge, the motor-bikers present are going to be extremely motivated, this will give a great deal of interest to the race as they know that for once the first place is within reach. They will be riding to win.» Starting with the Swede, Per-Gunnar Lundmark, one of the fastest riders and therefore logical favourite.
«It is true that usually I am positioned just behind the factory racers, so if I don’t make too many mistakes it should be alright. But I am discovering this event and I don’t know the regions we are going to cross very well. Above all I hope to improve my navigating talents. Fabrizio Meoni told me that a Master was a unique experience in this domain.»
They said... They said... They said...
N°200 – Jean-Louis Schlesser: «The day of the verifications is the most tedious, the least pleasant of the rally but it has to be done. Everything took place amidst warmth and friendship, and it is always really nice to meet up again with faces you know. I would like to stress the kindness and the availability of the personnel in charge of the verifications. It’s already being said that I have won the race, that I haven’t any rivals? All that is intoxication. Naturally there are worthy adversaries and newcomers such as Tinseau or Loubet. And I am very wary of the sand. Tomorrow, during the first special, there are apparently bogs to be got through. Look out...»
N°202 – Thierry Magnaldi: «I am very pleased with our car, we are broaching this rally in good form after very intense physical preparation. In T1, competition will primarily be internal, with Jean-Pierre Strugo, but also look out for Yves Loubet. I believe we can aim for the podium, in any case we have great hopes.»
N°207 – Christophe Tinseau: «In spite of my unfortunate experience in the Tunisia rally where I broke my rear axle in the very first special, I am relatively optimist. The vehicle goes very quickly but I know that I still have a lot of things to discover in rally-raids. Like in American Le Mans Series, where I am racing this season, I will try to be at the top, I am always striving for victory now even though it would appear difficult to give Schlesser concern. But I do not dread anyone, on this rally there is a very good opportunity to be noticed.»
Tomorrow’s programme
The Master Rallye directly gets to the heart of the matter (no prologue this year) with a first leg of 530 km between Saint Petersburg and Cholm, including a special of 80 km. The departure will be given in the very heart of the former capital of the Tsars, from the podium located on Blue Bridge square.
«This will be a pleasant first day, with all types of terrain, indicated René Metge: meadows with hairpins, a sandy quarry, gravel and also a beautiful portion of navigation in the forest. There could be some gaps
already...»
