24/04/2003   Rally “Snow Ladoga”

On the 7th of March 2003 the town of Lakhdenpokhia was once more filled with the sound of sport engines. That day the citizens of the town were receiving the participants of the fourth lap of the Championship of Russia for the Rally “Snow Ladoga”. Those days it was possible to see the Russian rally champions – taking part in the Rally were Sergei Uspenski, Stanislav Gryazin, Andew Zhigunov and many others. The PeterStar Rally Team couldn’t lose the chance to match their strength with the motor car sport “grandees”. It was decided to start in the Rally “Snow Ladoga” in three crews: V. Zaikin – R. Kozakov (VAZ 21083), I. Mironov – S. Denisov (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6), and Y. Sidorenko – Î. Krylov (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7).

The team was to undergo three severest trials – Karelian roads are guileful and do not forgive even the smallest mistakes. A light touch of a snow parapet is fraught with overturning to the roof! One third of those started could not avoid such mistakes: out of 70 crews only 45 reached the finish. Fortunately, the PeterStar Rally Team arrived to the finish with its full complement, being on the fourth place, with only the most titled domestic rally racers being ahead.