Azerbaijani off-roaders to join in international off-road competition

By AzerNews

Azerbaijan's oldest off-road Club, 4x4, will represent the country in Ladoga Trophy-raid 2014, the club's press service reported.

Ladoga Trophy-raid is the largest international competition in off-roading which be held in Russia's Karelia and Leningrad Oblast from May 31 until June 8, 2014.

Azerbaijan for the first time will participate in one of the most prestigious off-road competitions in the world. The event will bring together more than 300 vehicles from over 25 countries.

Azer Buniyatzade, Sergei Najafov, and Malik Azizov will represent Azerbaijan in the event.

"We kept watching the fabulous and unique Ladoga Trophy-raid for several years. We have always believed that participating in this competition is one of the highest achievements in the field of motor sports associated with off-road," the press service reported.

The opening ceremony of the Trophy-raid will be held at the St. Isaac's Square in the heart of St. Petersburg. Participants and spectators will be able to enjoy an exciting journey across Russia's Karelia and Leningrad Oblast by following the 1,200-kilometers long route.

Off-roading is the activity of driving or riding a vehicle on unsurfaced roads or tracks, made of materials such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain.

In Ladoga Trophy-raid, participants will compete by using usual off-road vehicles, as well as special and all-terrain vehicles.

Given the varying degrees of participants' skills and vehicles training, crews will compete in different groups, which differ by route complexity, as well as technical requirements for vehicles.

The most important thing in the trophy-raid is the time spent for overcoming racing track, which is consisted of special sections.

Given the geographical features of the territory and the complexity and length of routes, Ladoga Trophy-raid, which has been held since 1996, is considered to be the most fascinating contest in the world.