ASHGABAT (TCA) — The international rally Amul–Hazar 2018 initiated by the Turkmen leader will take place from September 9–14 along the Silk Road route in Turkmenistan. That was announced at a media forum dedicated to the preparations for the international rally held in Ashgabat on August 5, State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.
Foreign press at the media forum was represented by journalists from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, China, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Jean-Louis Schlesser, the General Director and organizer of the famous motor rally Africa Eco Race, said that “It is a great honor for me and my team to be co-organizer of the rally, which would run across great Turkmen desert. At first, we thought it would be a complicated and hard task to organize such competition within a short period. However, having started the work with the Turkmen team and inspired by personal example of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, we have achieved great results as for today.”
The rally will be held from the east to the west of Turkmenistan along the route of the ancient Silk Road. Total distance of the race running across the big desert is more than 1,500 kilometres.
Jean-Louis Schlesser explained that the route is divided into 5 stages and every speed part has a number of surprises for the pilot and navigator. Therefore, Karakum Desert is the heart of the project giving huge experience to true adventurers. Turkmen desert is not that homogeneous as the African one and generously gives unusual impressions, which are able to surprise anybody, as it is a living ecosystem not affected by human activity impact, Schlesser said.
The race will finish in Avaza National tourist zone, located on the Caspian coast.
Organization of International rally Amul–Hazar 2018 will be important for the development of international tourism along the Silk Road in Turkmenistan and in the region in general.
