It’s started! The
8th Master Rallye set off this morning from Saint Petersburg to go to Cholm. The first special, 80 km long, was very appreciated for its technical layout, perfect for limbering up. In cars, the scratch was signed by Christophe Tinseau (Protruck), in front of Nicolas Misslin (Mitsubishi) and Eric Vigouroux (Chevrolet). Jean-Louis Schlesser and his buggy finished
8th, at 4’23” from the leader. PG Lundmark is unsurprisingly the first leader in the motorbike race. On the terrain, very similar to those on which he trains in Sweden, he outdistanced the New Zealander Oosting and the Portuguese Santos, but the gaps between them are still quite small. Saturday, second leg between Cholm and Juchnov, with two specials on the menu.
The
8th Master Rallye was given the warmest possible welcome in Saint Petersburg, in pure Russian tradition. It is in this spirit that the departure took place this morning from Blue Bridge Square, in the very heart of the town. Under a fine drizzle which did not discourage numerous onlookers (attracted by the racing cars or the municipal majorettes?), the first competitors set off at 9 in the morning to reach Cholm late afternoon, 538 km to the south, happy to get to the heart of the matter. The special of 80 km, technical, narrow and in some places very sandy, enabled a first pecking order to arise, not without a few surprises, particularly in cars.
Indeed Christophe Tinseau signed the scratch in his Protruck, for what was only his second special in a rally-raid! The precocious withdrawal from the rally of Tunisia has been forgotten. Possible outsider prior to the departure, Tinseau obviously becomes a serious candidate for the final victory.
«The track was so narrow and sinuous that I exploded both my rear mirrors, noted the day’s winner. But the bodywork is impeccable. I was advised not to attack too much, to drive with reserve and to take my marks with my new co-driver Baptiste Vallet.» Behind Tinseau, fine grouped shot by the Mitsubishis (4 amongst the first 6), Eric Vigouroux coming in 3rd with his Protruck Chevrolet, with nevertheless several regrets:
«I was slowed down by a few competitors who set off before me (in particular Barkat’s Mitsubishi, victim of an overturn which wasn’t serious).» Also a good performance by Andrea Mayer, 4th, who was testing a short box today, obviously happily.
«It is of course more spirited, I have to adapt to it and learn how to dose it.»
The first place in T1
is to be noted also by Magnaldi (Mercedes), the engine shatter (and the withdrawal) of Rakitiansky’s Mitsubishi and of course the surprising 8th position
«only», of Jean-Louis Schlesser, winner of the 2001 edition, in his buggy Renault. Nothing to worry about for the big favourite in the event who particularly appreciated the special, and its
«pretty little sand circus». At 4’23’’ from Tinseau in the general, the leader of the World FIA Cup is ready and waiting and will of course have the opportunity to improve his rating. As from tomorrow?
He declared himself the logical favourite of the motorbike race, and he kept his word: Per-Gunnar Lundmark did not ruin his great beginnings in the Master Rallye by winning the first leg on the saddle of his KTM, finishing the 79 kms of the special in 1h01’37’’.
«It was just like driving at home, said half jokingly François Flick,
6th in the scratch. It was real Swedish forest!» Between the sandy passages and the technical course between the trees Lundmark indeed felt very at home.
«It looks just like my country, I felt as if I was on my training lands. I confirm my possibilities in the rating, but the gaps are still quite minor. I had to slow down quite a lot during the last 25 kilometres as my front wheel bumped violently into an enormous stone. Too bad. I am being cautious, there are nine days left of the race and anything can happen».
Behind the placid Swede, are to be found on the podium of this first leg an astounding duo formed by the Dutchman Harry Oosting and the Portuguese Nuno Santos. The latter, who came from trial, was happy with the layout,
«more favourable to technique than to speed. The sand found in the forest is easier to manage than the sand in the desert, it is even very pleasant when everything goes well like today! This 3rd place is almost un-hoped for for me. I come here for pleasure, this is only my second rally-raid. Of course I lack experience but to finish in the Top 10 at the arrival would be wonderful.» This first limbering up special was fairly easily digested by the 38 entrants, overjoyed by the menu concocted by René Metge.
«If the whole rally is like this, we will really get a great deal of pleasure rejoiced Patrick Sireyjol,
4th today. It was at an average speed, not too dangerous. We know René, he takes great care with his reconnaissance and the final layout benefits from that. Now we await slightly longer specials to have more significant gaps.»
Tomorrow’s programme
The second special (ES 2 108 km) will be run in the undergrowth, on a sand track at the beginning, followed by a long series of
«woops» on sand still, and then big driveable and bumpy tracks. Once more big curves and jumps in the forest on sand, a wide and very trail with lovely traces of planting! A true encounter with the Russian countryside and forests.
The third special (ES 3 100 km) is announced as being particularly rapid, not slowing down this infernal rate until the end of the trail, due to a portion of railway.
