Racing: Astana debuts at truck racing Cup of France

Kazakhstan racer of Astana team Arthur Ardavichus has taken the 6th place at the second stage of the truck racing Cup of France (circuit race on trucks), Tengrinews.kz reports citing Astana Racing Team press-service. According to the Vesti.kz, the bronze winner of Dakar 2012 rally was 8th in the general ranking with 26 points after the second stage. German driver Steffi Halm, the partner of Ardavichus in the Lion Truck Racing team, is the leader of the race with 88 points. Arthur is driving a German MAN. The total of 20 teams are taking part in the tournament. "I think, that participation of Arthur Ardavichus in the Cup of France is a brilliant idea. This is a 'fresh blood'. Besides, we are interested in participation of athletes with global names like Arthur. Even in the very first stage he showed excellent racing, stable results and made no accidents. Considering that it is his first experience my forecasts are very optimistic. I'm sure he will show good results," Head of the Truck Racing Organization and Director of Dakar Rally Fabien Calvet said. "The 'Kazakh vaccine' is the 'fresh blood' that the organizers wanted for the French championship. It entered the popular European series as Astana brand. Thanks to the right strategy of Astana team and the victories that came as a result of hard work, our brand has become very popular all over the world and especially in France that is one of the leaders of auto sport. There are a lot of fans of auto sport here. Thanks to our racers' winnings at Dakhar, and also to our cycling team's winnings at Tour de France, Astana team is well recognized," Ardavichus said. The marathon race consists of five stages, two of them are held in Nogaro and Le Mans as part of the European truck-racing weekends. Speaking after the first stage Ardavichus said: "I came ninth at the first stage, no it is too early to make any conclusions. Results require experience and the goal is one: to win the cup. Everything is new here for me: loads are different, speeds are different. It is very interesting". Ardavichus said the his participation in the Cup of France does not interfere with his plans to participate in the Silk Way Rally Raid: "We have spent several days at the plant working with trucks (in the Czech Republic). I will be driving Tatra truck at the Silk Way Rally, but not the one I will be driving at the Dakar-2014. The one for Dakar is still in the making. But this one has seen some racing already." On May 31 Aristarchus went to Slovakia to test his Tatra at a military training site. The Silk Way Rally kicks off from Moscow on July 5.