Racing: Astana hosts Rally Sprint on Ice

Astana is hosting the Rally Sprint on Ice event, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Andrey Amelin, Sport Racing Club chairman, as saying at the press-conference dedicated to the event. “This is the first stage of Samuryk-2013 National Classic Rally. This competition is held for the sixth time and it usually attract many people from all regions of Kazakhstan. Many drivers from Almaty, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Petropavlovsk have arrived,” Amelin said. According to him, rally sport is developing fast in Kazakhstan and this rally sprint is part of the trend. The opening ceremony of the first stage has started today, March 2, at 4 p.m. in Astana on the ice of the Yessil River at park zone next to Saryarka bridge. “Drivers from all regions of Kazakhstan are taking part in the rally. They are racing in two categories. The first one is the amateur category in which common drivers will compete, driving common cars that have common tires with small studs. The second category is the sport category where cars with sport tires and 4.5mm studs will drive on ice at a very high speed. We have paid a lot of attention to safety issues,” general sponsor of the event Sayat Rakhmetov said. Around 80 drivers are taking part in the race. There will be traditional three prize-winning places in each of the categories. Winners of the rally will get valuable medals, diplomas and cups. By Shynar Ospanova