First taken out, then overtaking - Schwarz and Hilger take the overall lead

During the second stage of the Transsyberia Rally 2007, a water hole which was in parts about 1.7 feet deep, gave some participants great difficulties. Numerous pilots got their cars stuck while driving through it, and two of them had to leave their unmaneuverable vehicles to the service crews, after the conclusion of the special test.

Near the Russian village Wjasniki, sandy tracks, water crossings, and a provisional bridge made of logs gave the drivers considerable problems. The leading Spaniard Carles Celma and his German co-driver Joern Pugmeister steered their Porsche Cayenne Transsyberia into the water before looking for a shallow place. Their car got stuck in the middle of the water hole. Armin Schwarz and Oliver Hilger profited from the mistake of the Spanish-German team, and overtook their stuck Porsche. Afterwards from the bank, they pulled their competitors out of the wet trap with a rope winch, and placed themselves in the lead. It wasn't enough though to win this stage. The American Rod Millen and his New Zealand co-driver Richard Kelsey crossed the water hole without problems, and drove the fastest time. "That was a great special test. A great test for Mongolia." said Millen at the finish-line.

For two of the crews the water passage had serious consequences. Oliver Schmidt and Thomas Koenig's Porsche was smoking from the motor and the cockpit when they crossed the finish-line. In their first diagnosis in the afternoon, the service crew concluded engine failure. Hans Erwin Bauer and Rolf Blaeß also demanded technical support after reaching the finish-line. The water had rendered the steering gear electric of their Mercedes ML 350 useless. In the evening the teams received the all-clear. Both crews will be able to undertake the third stage with their cars.

Tomorrow's part segment is the longest of the Transsyberia Rally 2007. The 66 participants have to cover close to 621 miles from Kasan to Ekaterinburg. In doing so, they will be crossing over the Ural Mountains, and reach the Asian part of the rally.

Considerable damage after second special test

The second stage of the Transsyberia Rally 2007 will be remembered by some participants for a long time. Torn off bumbers and rear ends, one engine failure,and one flooded electronic steering gear. Those are the preliminary results of the second day. A knee-deep water hole on the 18 mile long special testing route near the Russian village of Wjasniki, caused many drivers considerable difficulties. Two teams had to have their unmaneuverable cars towed.

Thick smoke arose from under the hood, as Oliver Schmidt and Thomas Koenig crossed the finish-line of the evaluation stretch in their Porsche Cayenne Transsyberia. "We were too slow in the water hole and got stuck. At that the motor overheated.", said Schmidt. By the afternoon the pilot assumed that the cylinder head was damaged.

The service crew is inspecting the damage right now.

The water hole also spelled disaster for Hans Erwin Bauer and Rolf Blaeß. They drove their Mercedes ML 350 into the ground. The penetrating water rendered the electronic steering gear useless. After unsuccessful attempts to fix the damage themselves, they called the service vehicle at the destination.

In comparison, Dr. Erik Brandenburg and Stephan Preuß had no problems overcoming this obstacle in their Porsche 911 Safari. While the other two teams had to secure their vehicles via rope winch, Brandenburg passed them quickly on a level part. "We ploughed through it so fast, that the water hole was empty for a few seconds.", Brandenburg laughed at the finish-line.