In the Polotsk region, a joint stage of the Russian and Belarusian Rally-Raid Championships will start on August 21.

With the support of the local authorities of the Vitebsk region, the premium motor oil brand G-Energy, VEB.RF, and OJSC Gazprom transgaz Belarus, the fourth stage of the Russian Rally-Raid Championship and the second stage of the Belarusian Championship – the "Belarus" Baja – will be held in the Polotsk district from August 21 to 23, 2014, along the route: Dretun – Polota – Zatrosyenye – Krygliki – Zapolye – Khonyaki – Zbrodovichi – Domniki – Kotlyany – Lysoye – Podsosna – Trudy – Nedruzhnoe – Dretun.

The races are dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders, a significant historical date for the fraternal peoples.

The "Belarus" Baja will start from the geographical center of Europe, the oldest city in Belarus, and one of the oldest cities of the ancient Russian state – Polotsk.

Leading athletes from Belarus, Russia, and Latvia will take part in the competition, as well as support groups – currently over 200 people.

The opening ceremony of the competition will take place on August 21 at 18:30 on Freedom Square in Polotsk. During the technical and administrative checks by the participants, a ceremonial flag-raising ceremony of Russia and Belarus will be held for spectators at the foot of the monument to the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812. Official representatives of the international event will deliver welcoming speeches, and a concert program featuring the best folk ensembles of Polotsk and the Polotsk district will be organized. After the grand opening ceremony, the participants will lay wreaths at the monument to the Liberators of Polotsk and, in an organized convoy of over 60 cars and trucks from the Russian and Belarusian sides, will solemnly drive through the city. This convoy will be honorably led by over 20 Polotsk bikers carrying the "Canvas of Liberation" banners, which list the main places of military glory and the names of the heroes-liberators of the Polotsk district.

The second day of the race, August 22, is a combat day. Racers will have to complete a 3.7-kilometer prologue, after which they will face two circular special stages of about 110 kilometers each. Coastal sand dunes, river floodplains, ravines, impassable forest roads, and smooth high-speed sections will reward their guests – motorsport professionals – with unforgettable emotions. On certain sections, relatively even terrain will allow for maintaining a high pace through turns and connections.

On the third day of the "Belarus" Baja, participants will face two more challenging and interesting 110-kilometer special stages. In the evening, motorsport professionals and spectators will return to Polotsk, where the award ceremony for the winners will take place at 18:00 on Freedom Square.

Participants of the second stage of the Belarusian Championship – the "Belarus" Baja – will cover about 500 kilometers over two competitive days!

From 09:00 to 18:00 on August 22 and 23, 2014, dirt, forest, and field roads along the route of the high-speed sections will be closed to all vehicular traffic.

During the international event, a press center will operate in the building of the Polotsk District Executive Committee. More than 20 Russian journalists, as well as representatives of Belarusian mass media, plan to attend to cover the international competition.

For fans of rally raids wishing to watch the race, two spectator zones will be organized in the Pura area (Dretun training ground, territory of Malosithnyansky village council) and in the area of Zbrodovichi village (territory of Goryansky village council). One of these zones will be easily accessible by car, while buses will run to the other.

More than 20 organizations from Polotsk and Polotsk District are involved in the preparation and conduct of the sporting event.

For three days, the inter-district department of the State Automobile Inspectorate (serving Polotsk city and Polotsk district) of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee will ensure road traffic safety at the intersections of high-speed rally-raid sections with asphalt and main dirt roads, as well as at the locations of the competition participants' vehicles.

To provide necessary emergency medical assistance in case of a road traffic accident and other situations, operational duty of ambulance teams will be organized by the staff of the State Healthcare Institution "Polotsk Central City Hospital" at the intersections of the sports route and public roads according to a scheme agreed with the rally-raid organizers.

The Polotsk City and District Department for Emergency Situations will ensure operational duty of emergency rescue vehicle crews or a helicopter intended for rescue operations using unblocking equipment in case of a road traffic accident along the competition route, as well as additional fire safety at the bivouac sites, parking lots, and overnight stays of the rally-raid participants.

Currently, issues related to the operation of additional public transport routes for delivering spectators to the venue of the grand opening, start, finish, and spectator zones of the international rally-raid "Baja Belarus" are being addressed.

Each organization will make a significant contribution to the organization, preparation, and conduct of the second stage of the Belarusian Championship – "Baja Belarus" in Polotsk district, which will undoubtedly leave only positive impressions on participants and spectators, delight with an excellent level of organization and an interesting route, and also take a worthy place in the sports calendars of subsequent years.

We await guests on the hospitable Polotsk land!

Program of events for spectators:

August 21:

Freedom Square, Polotsk

18:30 — Grand opening ceremony

19:30 — laying flowers at the monument to the Liberators of Polotsk

21:00 — procession of sports cars through Polotsk

August 22:

09:30 — opening of spectator zone 1

10:00 — start of the first crew, Prologue

13:00 — start of the first crew, SS-2

13:30 — opening of spectator zone 2

15:15 — start of the first crew, SS-3

August 23:

08:30 — opening of spectator zone 1

09:00 — start of the first crew, SS-4

09:30 — opening of spectator zone 2

11:20 — start of the first crew, SS-5

18:00 — award ceremony, Freedom Square, Polotsk

By the way

: Baja is a sporting variety of rally raid, it is a sprint rally raid that is more compact and closer to the spectator. The main difference between a baja and a traditional marathon or rally raid is the length of the route along a specific path and the closure to external traffic.

The competition with the Spanish name "Baja" usually takes place over 1 to 3 days. Since this is the shortest type of rally raid in terms of time, the route length of a baja is no more than 1200 km.).

Rally raid

– a type of long-distance race of 400–900 kilometers over rough terrain, held over several days.