Trans-oriental Rally

Template:Short description The Trans-oriental Rally was a motor rally which started in St. Petersburg on June 12, 2008 and ended next to the Great Wall of China near Beijing on June 28, 2008.

Overview

It was an alternative to the Lisboa 2008 Dakar Rally which was cancelled due to fears of terrorism. Among the drivers on the race was François Delecour, two-time winner of the Monte Carlo Rally.

There were 16 legs planned:

Stage	Date	From	To
1	June 12	Template:Flagicon St. Petersburg	Template:Flagicon Rogatchevo
2	June 13	Template:Flagicon Rogatchevo	Template:Flagicon Petrovsky
3	June 14	Template:Flagicon Petrovsky	Template:Flagicon Yelabuga
4	June 15	Template:Flagicon Yelabuga	Template:Flagicon Mrakovo
5	June 16	Template:Flagicon Mrakovo	Template:Flagicon Bogotse
6	June 17	Template:Flagicon Bogotse	Template:Flagicon Arkalyk
7	June 18	Template:Flagicon Arkalyk	Template:Flagicon Botakara (via Astana)
8	June 19	Template:Flagicon Botakara	Template:Flagicon Ayaguz
9	June 20	Template:Flagicon Ayaguz	Template:Flagicon Karamay
10	June 21	Template:Flagicon Karamay	Template:Flagicon Turpan
Rest day
11	June 23	Template:Flagicon Turpan	Template:Flagicon Hami
12	June 24	Template:Flagicon Hami	Template:Flagicon Quinguan
13	June 25	Template:Flagicon Quinguan	Template:Flagicon Alxa Youqi
14	June 26	Template:Flagicon Alxa Youqi	Template:Flagicon Bayanhot
15	June 27	Template:Flagicon Bayanhot	Template:Flagicon Hohhot
16	June 28	Template:Flagicon Hohhot	Template:Flagicon Beijing

Fatalities

To date there have been two fatalities on the race:

• Chinese driver Xu Lang, June 17 (from injuries sustained a day earlier)
• French motorcyclist Philippe Tonin, June 17

The latter fatality led the Russian Kamaz team to withdraw.

References

• Motorsport.com article

External links

• Weblog focusing on the performance of motorcycle participant Patricia Watson-Miller

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