Race Report

 Race DAY by DAY!

FINAL CLASSIFICATION
____________________________

21th June 2009: Stage 4!
Champions 2009 will be known today!

For the second time on the Portuguese tracks, French Guerlain Chicherit (BMW X3 CC) won the 2009 edition of Rali Vodafone Transibérico, dominating clearly the last part of the race. With this success, Chicherit confirmed his win in the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup.
Finishing with more than one hour of advantage over the second, the BMW driver suffered until the last moment, as the engine had ignition problems, but even so he was able to finish the last stage and reach Estoril without further problems.
As consequence of the problems that affected the majority of the leading drivers, Hélder Oliveira (Nissan Pathfinder) and Bernardo Moniz da Maia (BMW X3 CC) finished in the podium places.
The one Russian crew still in the race in T1 - Alexander Mironenko finished the race on 8th overall place.
Pedro Silva Nunes (Mitsubishi Pajero) led the T2 Group at the arrival, but his car had been scrutineered and following the report from the Technical Delegate, the Stewards of the Meeting excluded the car due to a modification of a homologated roll cage. Russian Artem Varentsov (Toyota Land Cruiser) was declared T2 winner. With this win Russian crew became Champions in FIA Cross-Country World Cup in T2.
Arabian crew Yahya Al Helei got a penalty of 2 hours for high speed in zone of speed control, so he finished the race only 4th. Another Russian crew - Igor Bondarev took 3rd place in T2.
________________________

20th June 2009: Stage 3!
Big looses in leaders group!

After the morning retirements of Filipe Campos and Carlos Sousa, both for accidents damaging the suspension and loosing one wheel, Miguel Barbosa (BMW X3 CC) went off in the afternoon, almost destroying his BMW, leaving French Guerlain Chicherit (BMW X3 CC) with the Rali Vodafone Transibérico's win much more easy when still 319,44 km of stages are left.
Portuguese Hélder Oliveira (Nissan Pathfinder) took all the advantage from these retirements and put himself in second place, after leaving Merida this morning sixth overall.
Bernardo Moniz da Maia (BMW X3 CC) completes the podium, after one day where he didn't push so hard, suffering some physical problems due to the terrible hot conditions.
In T2, the situation became more critical after night checking of the car of Varentsov. Technical marshals came on Bivouac in the late evening to check the size of restrictor on Varentsov Toyota. The size was Ok, but it was very nurveus moment for all team.
The stage ends not very good for Russians. Silva Nunes still leads, but Varentsov passed ahead of him another Portugal driver - Nuno Matos. Al Helei - second. If the race finishes in same it is Ok for Russian because they will have enough points to win the World Cup in T2. Otherway, if Al Helei will attack in same rhythm and will get a lead, they should catch 2nd place. Tomorrow everything will be clear!
________________________

19th June 2009: Stage 2!
Too much HOT today - around 40 degrees!

French Guerlain Chicherit (BMW X3 CC) won the second special stage of Valverde del Fresno, the end of the second competitive day of Rali Vodafone Transibérico, and reducing in 30 seconds his delay regarding the leader, Filipe Campos, that will start for the third day with an advantage of 4m 02s from his teammate, with Carlos Sousa (Mitsubishi Lancer), lying third, 9m 01s behind the leader.
This second run of the 142,80 Km stage put an end to Nicolas Misslin (Mitsubishi Pajero MPR 13) driving, after rolling, and also to Pedro Grancha (Nissan Navara), that lost his left rear wheel after problems with the drive shaft.
Rodolphe Deveaux (Mitsubishi Pajero MPR 13) lost around 25 minutes with problems with the "sentinel", the system that advises one competitor the approach of a faster driver behind him, and apparently rang without any car coming...
A lot of crews could not continue the stage because of bad feeling in so high temperature. Russian Boris Gadasin was one of them.
In T2, Pedro Silva Nunes is still lead, but the main fight was between Arabian crew Al Helei|Al Kendi and Russians Artem Varentsov/Roman Elagin. Both needs mazimum points to win the World Cup in T2. The first special of the day won Russian crew but the car was slightly damaged and on the second special and stage Al Helei tool advantage. Another Russian crew - Igor Bondarev with Alexander Gorelov had a 5th place in T2.

______________________

18th June 2009: Stage 1!

The first competitive day of Rali Transibérico Vodafone was run under high temperatures and some rain, not enough to avoid dust along the special stage of 180 kilometres. Filipe Campos (BMW X3 CC) arrive at the bivouac leading the field, being, from the first drivers on the road, the one that had a clearer run through the day.
First on the road after being the fastest driver in the super stage, Spanish Nani Roma (BMW X3 CC) lost his lead during the longest stage of the day with electrical problems that forced him to retire, but he will restart tomorrow to get more experience with his new car and co-driver.
Guerlain Chicherit (BMW X3 CC) took advantage of Miguel Barbosa's puncture, that forced the BMW X3 driver to stop to change the wheel, and the French had no dust for a long time, finishing second on the stage, keeping the same position overall, in front of the Nicolas Misslin (Mitsubishi Pajero MRP 13), the best driver of the three diamond cars.
After his spun in the special stage, Carlos Sousa (Mitsubishi Lancer) started 10th on the road and faced some dust problems when approaching slower competitors and was only able to sign fourth time on the stage.
Russian Boris Gadasin (Nissan Proto) had a problem with fuel input system and retired from the stage.
In T2 category Pedro Silva Nunes (Mitsubishi Pajero) took a lead, but Yahya Alheli from UAE and Russian Artem Varentsov got a close time results at the end of stage.
______________________________________

17th June 2009: Checks and Ceremonial start!

All competitors of the 5th edition of Rali Transiberico which counts for the last event of FIA World Cup 2009 this year have met each other in beautiful and friendly Estoril.
Day started with administrative and technical scrutineering, which took place in area nearby the famous Casino Estoril.
According the entry list, BMW X-Raid presented the new test-driver - ex-Mitsubishi Spanish Nani Roma, who should test the BMW X3CC in Portugal and after decide the question of his join to BMW X-Raid in coming "Dakar 2010".
The top Portugal pilots Carlos Sousa on Mitsubishi Lancer, Filipe Campos and Bernardo Moniz - both on BMW X3CC as well as Ricardo Santos, Pedro Grancha and others have presented themselves in this Rali.
5 cars were entered from Russia. Well-known Boris Gadasin on Nissan Proto in T1 and Artem Varentsov - current leader of T2 FIA classification on Toyota. Other 3 drivers - Igor Bondarev, Alexander Mironenko and Alexey Denisov came in Portugal to test their cars and get a good experience.
After Checks 46 crews have been admitted to the start.
In the evening the Ceremonial start of the Rali Transiberico 09 took place in the park of Casino Estoril. Very beautiful and bright podium was organized by ACP!

 

 16th June 2009 - Check-up your Race clock!

Rali Transiberico 2009 starts in one day!

The official Race time is Portuguese time (Moscow time minus 3 hours).

Check the schedule of administrative check on 17th of June in Estoril Congress Center:

Time	Competitor		Time	Competitor
08-30	56, 55, 54, 53		10-15	31, 29, 34, 26
08-45	52, 39, 40, 38		10-30	9, 27, 43, 25
09-00	3, 14, 15, 19		10-45	24, 23, 22, 30
09-15	51, 50, 49, 48		11-00	20, 28, 6, 42
09-30	47, 46, 45, 10		11-15	12, 5, 21, 18
09-45	1, 2, 4, 16		11-30	8, 7, 37, 32
10-00	36, 35, 33, 17		11-45	44

 * - marked the Checks  time for Russia crews