REPORT – ETAP-1
ETAP-1 Report “Can-am 1. 2. 3.”
Fresh and soothing summer skies have finally come back to Mongolia after continuous heavy rains. On the first day of the rally the route heads south and then the SS headed westward. This exciting piste or unpaved road was totally a stage for the Canadian-made SXS! Another surprise is that cars took 1st to 6th place so far in the really. There are only 3 motorcycles ranking within 16th place and above. This might be due to instructions that rally motorcycle riders were given at the briefing to run at about 70 percent of capacity. The bivouac or camp is quiet with almost everyone going to bed early to get ready for the long distance driving in tomorrow’s rally. (Updated 11:14 PM)
The 25th year of the Rally Mongolia has finally gotten off to a start. The Korean team is a lineup of potential winning rally riders and drivers. The Mongolian team is pumped up to charge ahead to victory. However, the Silk Way Rally has only just ended so maybe there is still some anxiety at the rally start? The Chinese team is grabbing attention with their 4 machine group of KTM1190ADV and 1090ADV. Maybe they chose this as part of their rally strategy? Of course, the Japanese driver and riders are also looking for their chance to win. (Updated 5:30 PM)
ETAP-1 11 AUG. 2019
ROUTE INFORMATION – ETAP-1
■ ETAP-1 11 AUG. 2019 ULAANBAATAR⇒BAYANGOBI
■ L : 109.51km S : 251.53km L : 49.13km TOTAL : 410.17km
「Chasing the Heat Shimmer at the Northern Edge of the Gobi」
On the first day of the rally, everyone heads west along the northern edge of the Gobi. That place is a jumbled mix of Gobi desert and prairie grasslands. After your grand start from Ulaanbaatar you head south along the liaison. You move ahead while alongside a new highway that links to the new airport. You refuel at a gas station 100 kilometers ahead and finally start off on the first SS or special stage. Here, you need to let your excitement subside and keep running steadily along. Though a dirt road this is in fact a high-speed section. The feeling of release as you run through the Mongol prairie is intense and the emotion that grips you might make you hit the gas too much. In the later part of this stage, careful navigation decides who wins and who loses. After several CAP (compass heading) adjustments at the piste (dirt track) crossing, the first day’s SS comes to a safe finish. You take the liaison and arrive at your bivouac camp and the sun still hasn’t sunk very far in the sky.
PHOTO – ETAP-1
Professional photographer shooting. See all the pictures below
ETAP-1 START
ETAP-1 SS-1
ETAP-1 Shooting from the sky
Breaking photo