Podium for Remennik at 2024 Dubai International Baja
Sergei Remennik and Alexey Ignatov won bronze in the SxS Pro / National Category of the 2024 Dubai International Baja.
On Sunday, the first day of winter, the Dubai International Baja, which is the final round of the FIA World Baja Cup and the Middle East Bajas Cup, ended in the Arabian Desert. Five Russian crews competed in the SxS Pro / National Category with the support of the BIG RED RACING Team: Sergei Remennik and Alexey Ignatov (No. 603), Alexey Shmotyev and Egor Okhotnikov (No. 604), Maxim Deykin and Kirill Izotov (No. 609), as well as drivers without co-drivers Rais Minnikhanov (No. 611) and Sergey Karyakin (No. 612).
On Friday, there were two events: a Qualifying Stage in the Hatta Suhaila area, following which the international classification competitors were allocated starting positions for the first selective section, and the Ceremonial Start at Dubai Festival Bay. Spectators witnessed the competition opening in Dubai Festival City. The competitors were flagged away by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, accompanied by His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed bin Sulayem, President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), and other officials.
Two-Day Fight With Sands and Heat
On Saturday and Sunday, the competitors were required to complete two selective sections with a total distance of 385 kilometers. These included the open desert (35%), as well as the Dubai dunes, renowned for their beauty and complexity (45%), which made the Baja so famous and popular among crews from all over the world. In total, the crews covered approximately 867 kilometers over the course of the Dubai International Baja, including liaisons. The Saturday and Sunday stages were held in the same area, but Sunday’s selective section was run in the opposite direction compared to the previous day.
At the Saturday stage, the competition in the SxS Pro category unfolded in a manner that resulted in Sergey Karyakin reaching the finish line with the best time. However, he was subsequently issued a 15-minute penalty for missing several waypoints. Maxim Deykin completed the course in third place, but was promoted to second place based on the results of the first stage. Sergei Remennik and Alexey Shmotyev finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively, and also virtually advanced one position. Rais Minnikhanov was classified with an eighth-place finish, and his result was not affected by the crews’ movements in the virtual standings after readings from navigation and orientation devices were taken.
On Saturday evening, Sergei Remennik commented that the stage distance on sand and dunes, despite the 30-degree heat, was surprisingly easy. The pre-rally test kilometers were insufficient to fully comprehend the suspension operation in the new Maverick. During the day, some comments were identified that the mechanics had eliminated during the evening service and, on the driver’s recommendation, adjusted the suspension differently. Additionally, areas for improvement in driving skill were identified (the lack of experience is notable): as soon as the track resembled a classic rally, Remennik and Ignatov began accelerating, but as soon as dunes appeared on the route, which is challenging to navigate, Sergei slowed down.
At the conclusion of the selective section on Sunday, Andreas Borgman, who competed under the UAE flag, was determined to be the top performer. However, this did not have a notable impact on the final results within the National category. Sergey Karyakin finished in second place, two minutes behind Borgman, while Deykin completed the selective section shortly thereafter. The crews of Remennik and Shmotyev once again placed fifth and sixth, while Minnikhanov finished eighth. Accordingly, the top four positions in the National category, as determined by the competition results, were awarded to Russian competitors.
The crew’s co-driver Alexey Ignatov noted the similarities between the two tracks, stating, “There were no significant differences between today’s track and yesterday’s. It was, so to speak, located in the same place. Yesterday, we drove in a circle in one direction, and today, in the other. Yesterday, we gained insight into the challenging nature of the dunes with hard drops, which presented unexpected difficulties. There were numerous sections where maximum speed was feasible, and today’s route introduced additional complexity with multiple intersections of yesterday’s tracks. In this regard, the navigation presented certain challenges.”
10 SxS Pro / National category crews finished out of 17 starters:
- Deykin / K. Izotov 6:34:57.3 h.
- Karyakin, without a co-driver +11:50.0 min
- Remennik / A. Ignatov +13:58.2 min
- Shmotyev / E. Okhotnikov +17:58.0 min
- Gelazninkiene/ A. Gelazninkas +18:52,6
- Borgmann, solo +27:30,9
- Minnikhanov, without a co-driver +50:10.2 min
Return to Top-Class Sports
Sergei Remennik, driver, “I’m delighted to be back driving a sports car and pleased with my performance. It was a genuine rally-raid, and it has been a significant period of time since I have participated in such an event. The last time I participated in a high-level event was in February 2022, when I finished the Baja Russia Northern Forest. We will now commence planning for the forthcoming season. We have gathered sufficient data for analysis. We are aware of the areas that require improvement and have a clear understanding of the necessary steps to take. We will address this issue.
I am pleased to report that our team crews took the first four places in the Baja, which is also a commendable achievement. We were pleased with the entire experience! I would like to extend my congratulations to all those who participated in the event and in particular to Ruslan and the BIG RED RACING Team for their invaluable contribution to the training process and their success in the Baja.”
The Russian teams demonstrated their superior preparation and team spirit by securing all four first-place finishes in the standings.
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