The tremendous celebration: the Ceremonial Start of the Silk Way Rally

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The long-awaited start of the 13th edition of the Silk Way #rally has taken place — 93 crews set off for the distance of the largest #event in Eurasia that will connect 13 regions of Russia by a single route from Kazan to Moscow and will guide competitors representing 21 countries along the most interesting and yet unexplored routes.

The tremendous celebration on Millennium Square began with the opening of themed areas, a concert program and a performance by motofreestylers. At the end of the concert the visitors of the Ceremonial Start saw a parade of the flags of the participating countries, then officials and heads of the largest automobile plants in Russia addressed the crews and spectators with words of welcome.

Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, highlighted the contribution of the Silk Way #rally Directorate to the development of international relations and the strengthening of friendship between countries. "I'm glad to be here, at this fantastic #event, the Ceremonial Start of the #rally, which will take place along the ancient route that connected all of our vast Eurasia, connected territories, #people, their destinies, traditions, cultures, languages. And the fact that the Silk Way #rally starts for the thirteenth time shows how important it is for all our neighbors, for everyone who lives on this vast Eurasian continent, to feel belonging to a common cause, especially through sports that bring #people together through fair competition", Lavrov said.

Rustam Minnikhanov, the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, followed the Minister. "Representatives of 21 countries, 93 crews start at the Silk Way #rally. This is a very important #event for our automobile republic, technical sports are very popular here. I would like to thank the competitors of the Silk Way #rally and the guests of our festival, as well as the citizens of Kazan who warmly welcome the Silk Way Rally", Minnikhanov said.

Sergey Kogogin, the KAMAZ General Director and the Chairman of the Board of the Association of Automobile Manufacturers of Russia, emphasized the contribution of engineers and designers to the creation of sports cars. "Rally-raids are probably the pinnacle of what we can do in our production. This is the work of designers, workers who created these vehicles, and, of course, drivers who are ready to travel 5,200 kilometers through many cities in Russia", Kogogin said. "Thanks to everyone who came to see the crews off to this challenging journey. I'm sure that fortune will smile upon everyone, and we will meet on Red Square in Moscow on July 15."

Vadim Sorokin, the President and the General Director of GAZ Group, wished good luck to the #rally competitors and shared his expectations from the performance of the GAZ Raid Sport Team. "I would like to thank the Organizers of this competition for the great festival they make for us. Every year we look forward to this exciting moment — the start of the rally-raid — and we are worried about our GAZ Raid Sport", he said. "In 2023 we are represented by an international team, and we hope that it will be successful, but we wish good luck to all competitors."

Pavel Yakovlev, the General Director of URAL Automobile Plant, took the floor next. In 2023 the plant entered the latest sports truck for the Silk Way #rally. "I'm very that such a large number of crews are going to the #rally. Behind each of them is a huge team of specialists, designers, engineers who prepare the vehicle before the start. I would like to wish there were fewer breakdowns and no injuries", Yakovlev said.

Maxim Sokolov, the President of AVTOVAZ, also talked about the difficulties of the upcoming route. "Today Kazan has become the capital of Russian motorsport. After a long break we returned to rally-raids, fielded two crews. They will have a tough fight ahead of them, but in the end, they will succeed, just like the other #rally сompetitors", Sokolov said. "I wish all crews an exciting struggle, success and victories. Good luck!".

Vladimir Chagin, the Head of the International Project Silk Way #rally, also made a welcoming speech. "On behalf of the entire Directorate I would like to thank #rustamminnikhanov and the heads of the Republic of Tatarstan and the city of Kazan, which is rightfully considered the capital of sports in Russia — and today we have become witnesses of that", Chagin said. "Such a wonderful sporting #event would not have taken place without the partners and sponsors of the Silk Way #rally. I would also like to thank Gazprom PJSC and personally Alexey Miller, as well as the heads of the regions we will visit, they all did a great job. Good luck!"

The passage of crews along the podium was the main #event of the Ceremonial Start of the Silk Way #rally. About five thousand spectators gathered on the Millennium Square to greet the competitors leaving for the distance. Then Russkaya Mechanica company ruffled the RM 650-2 snow and swamp vehicle among them.

At this point the ceremonial part came to an end. On July 7 the crews will go to the distance of the selective section — they will tackle 141 kilometers of dirt roads. The first stage will lead the #rally caravan from Kazan to Ufa and will mark the beginning of the struggle for the White Tiger — the main trophy of the Silk Way #rally.