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RALLY: TransSyberia Rally Blog Day 3: Eight Teams Already Out
Written by: Brian Ghidinelli   
07/12/2008
Charlotte, North Carolina
 
Dark clouds made good on their threats pouring down on the competitors and at the end of our two hours on the stage, only nine cars had reached the final check point. (Photo: Brian Ghidinelli) ยป More Photos


It's 7:30am on Day One of the rally and out my window I can see the TransSyberia team setting up in Red Square, the brand-new BMW 7-series sitting in a giant hourglass from its world-wide gala unveiling and Red Bull Formula 1 transporters parked ahead of a July 13th street demonstration. Since when did Moscow become such a hot spot?

In the TransSyberia Rally press conference yesterday, a Porsche representative was asked about entering Cayennes in other rallies and answered Porsche specifically selected the TransSyberia in part due to its emerging market. These are business men after all and the estimated $500,000 required to run a two-car team must be justified regardless of the potential glory. With the economic growth in countries like Russia, India and China, luxury car manufacturers are hoping new wealth will boost their revenue even if slowdowns occur elsewhere in the world. For Muscovites, that might mean their very own Formula 1 race. It was at one of these such demonstrations a year ago in Abu Dhabi when F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone announced they had signed a seven-year deal for racing there. Perhaps Russia will join that exclusive club tomorrow?

The rally start was a leisurely affair starting with photos and media interviews in front of the famous St. Basil's Cathedral. The paddock was filled with family, support staff and VIPs from all over the world. Drivers were patiently answering questions and triple-checking their preparation lists but it was clear in their faces they were ready to hit the road. "Hurry up and wait" as Team Canada driver Kees Nierop put it dryly. Not everyone was sitting idle though; there were a few last-minute tweaks like hand-cut tire grooves
on the #1 Team USA car of Ryan Millen and Colin Godby (See Photos). Porsche changed tires to BF Goodrich for 2008 after experiencing problems in last year's rally but there are no mud and snow tires that fit the Cayenne's 18" wheel. Instead, Porsche teams are running All-Terrain tires which have more tread blocks and are more likely to trap thick mud. Millen and Godby hope these additional grooves will make all-terrain tires behave more like mud and snow tires non-Porsche teams are using.

Deputy Mayor of Moscow Juri Rossljak addressed the crowd welcoming the rally back for its fifth running. He officially started the rally with a 3-2-1 countdown for each car leaving Red Square beginning with the #1 car Team USA.

As teams left the Red Square, the press boarded a tour bus to meet a helicopter for transit to the first special stage of the rally. Led by a police escort, our bus spent half the time in oncoming traffic lanes skipping the Moscow traffic. Imagine the surprise of the rally cars as we pulled up alongside and proceeded to pass them en route! We celebrated our come from behind attack with snarky text messages to our driver-friends until we turned towards the airport and the drivers continued to the special stage.

Between complicated logistics and inclement weather, it was an anxious relief when we were cleared to board our Soviet-era helicopter. Passing a graveyard of decomposing aircraft along the runway didn't reinforce that maintenance was this secondary airport's top priority. I sent a loving text message to my future wife as a precaution.
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