"Maz-Sportauto relinquishes its top position in the Silk Road-2025 competition"
The 15th International Silk Way Rally 2025, a massive marathon rally raid, is currently underway, showcasing an increased number of mountainous sections and extended sandy stretches to boost the overall difficulty of the competition. This year's event, which began on July 12 in Irkutsk, Russia, covers approximately 10,735 kilometers over 17 days with 14 bivouacs planned.
After the fourth stage, the current leaders in their respective categories have emerged. Andrey Rudskoy of the Russian team "KAMAZ-Master" is leading in the T1 prototype class, maintaining his successful performance from the 2023 overall win. In the SSV category, Anastasia Nifontova holds the top position.
The fourth stage, which took place on July 15, connected Ulan-Ude with Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar. The special stage was 205 km long, running from Balyktyg in Irkutsk Oblast to Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia. Anton Shibalo of the Russian team "KAMAZ-Master" won the stage, but the overall leader of the rally was not specified.
The Belarusian team "MAZ-SPORTauto," led by Sergei Viazovich, finished third in the latest stage. The Belarusian crew posted a time of 2 hours 35 minutes 10 seconds in the stage. However, they are now around three and a half minutes behind their Russian counterparts in the overall truck standings.
Participants in the rally represent various categories, including truck (T5), off-road, motorcycle, and quad. The total distance for pilots is approximately 5000 km. The competition will end on July 22 in Gorno-Altaisk.
As the rally progresses, it is expected to move through various key cities and regions across Russia, Mongolia, and neighboring territories, following a similarly challenging course across diverse terrain from Siberia through Mongolia and possibly into China. Past editions have included stages like Hami to Dunhuang, and further progressions through Jiayuguan, Alashan, Zhongwei, and ending in Xi’an, covering a total competitive distance near 9,600 km.
The Silk Way Rally continues to captivate audiences with its demanding terrain and intense competition, as teams push their vehicles and themselves to the limit in pursuit of victory.
Following the fourth stage, Anastasia Nifontova, of the SSV category, continues to hold the top position, mirroring her strong performance at the 2023 event. In the midst of the rally's journey through Mongolia, Anton Shibalo won the 205-kilometer special stage from Balyktyg to Ulan-Ude, yet the overall leader of the T1 prototype class remains undetermined.
