Above: The Discovery at base camp in Rogatchevo after a grueling 834 km-long first stage along with Russian national day heavy traffic. Click here to see more photos from the start of Transorientale 08.

At the end of the second day’s racing, the team from Gstaad spoke with our sister publication, Anzeiger von Saanen. Difficult driving conditions during the first stages of the rally caused a number of problems for both the organizers and the teams: Bank holiday traffic was intense during the first stage from St Petersburg to Rogatchevo, and the next day’s heavy rain meant that bulldozers were needed to tow vehicles away from the muddy field next to base camp. According to Stanislas de Sadeleer, these early challenges were very tiring. Traveling in the Regularity category, the men from Gstaad also told the Anzeiger that the results of the first two days were still unavailable owing to technical problems. Despite these early setbacks, the Gstaad Automobile Club team’s enthusiasm is still intact, and their faithful Land Rover Discovery is once again proving easy to handle. And remember, you too can participate by making a donation to charity to help children in need. To date, SFr 3,494.60 has already been collected in aid of Chinderhuus Ebnit, Gstaad, and the charity organization Mecenariat Heart Surgery / Enfants du Monde

Account for donations: Saanen Bank, IBAN CH 81 06342016019849010

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is sponsored by ING Private Banking

Driver Stanislas de Sadeleer glowing with confidence before the start of the race in St Petersburg.

Young Russians leave their mark on the Discovery.

Co-driver Hansueli Brand outside the bivouac which accompanies the teams and their entourage on each stage.

Stanislas de Sadeleer on the banks of the Volga.