Safety has priority - Special stage in West Siberia is canceled.

First part: 286 km
Special test: 21 km (cancelled)
Second part: 176 km

Until two hours before the start, the stretch of the special stage presented itself in good condition. Then a storm front spoiled everything. Within minutes the route was submerged in water, and the paths were soaked and impassable. Organizers and the rally physician drove a few hundred meters into the silty stretch, but returned a short time later. The result was clear: The outside conditions do not permit a start. The safety of the teams isn’t ensured, since the stage is also impassable for rescue vehicles. The organizers therefore canceled the special stage. All teams present understood this decision.

Aside from the experienced pilots, the “young and the restless“, who’d been looking forward to the 21 km long demanding stretch, also showed understanding. Ryan Millen/Team USA, son of last year’s winner: “If the emergency doctor can’t get to the scene of the accident, I would have had a precarious feeling to start into the stage.“ Rally newcomer Tommy Steuer from Columbia said with a wink: “I would’ve been the co-pilot today. In this kind of event, that also means getting out, removing the dirt from the car. A load of work! In that respect, I’m not unhappy the test was canceled. There are still sufficient challenges coming our way.“

The Danner Racing Team, which fell back in the standings due to transmission damage two days ago, was disappointed: “Too bad. We would’ve liked to have gone out today. We were determined to make up some places in the special stage. I didn’t see the stretch, but I’m sure the organizer made the right decision, explained Christof Danner with a twinkle in his eyes, which reveals how much he wanted to go out in the mud today.

Most of the teams used the early arrival at the stage’s destination Tjumen to do some checks and maintenance on their vehicles, as well as to regenerate themselves. On Wednesday the Transsyberia Rally 2008 powered by Sony Ericsson continues 672 kilometers in eastward direction. The pilots will be steering towards the fifth stage destination Omsk.

Impressions are online in the gallery.