The FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup begins this weekend with Russia Northern Forest Baja, characterized by the snow and ice of the Republic of Karelia, north of St. Petersburg. Everything will revolve around the town of Sortavala, on the shores of Lake Ladoga, near the border with Finland.
An atypical competition compared to all the others in the world championship, a privileged hunting ground for specialists in spiked wheels. But in 2014 Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi denied the predictions by winning a Toyota Hilux Overdrive.
The Off-road Club 4x4 Pordenone will follow with great interest the Northern Forest, the first chapter of the eleven that make up the 2017 Cup. In March it will be the Dubai International Baja, followed in April by the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the Qatar Cross Country Rally. Then in May the Kazakhstan Rally and finally in June (15/18) the Italian Baja, on the shores of Meduna, Cosa and Tagliamento. In July the Baja España Aragon, in August the Hungarian Baja and Baja Poland, in September the Rally du Maroc and finally in October the Baja Portalegre 500 in Portugal.
Three continents, races in ten different countries, crews from all over the world. Last year at the Italian Baja the New Zealander Emma Gilmour and the South African Sandra Labuscagne were seen in action, the American Bryce Menzies and other competitors from South America also put on a show. Sport as a place to meet and compare offers priceless emotions, and off-roading promotes the beauty of the places crossed by the race like few other motorsport disciplines.
Carlo Ragogna Italian Baja Press Office
