The 4,000 kilometer Silk Way Rally got off the mark ceremonially in Moscow's Red Square on Saturday as more than 100 cars and 25 trucks prepared to head for the Black Sea coast.
Teams from 25 countries leave Moscow on Sunday, hoping to finish on Friday in the resort city of Gelendzhik, on a route that winds southeast through the cities of Ryazan, Volgograd, Eilsta and Maykop.
France's two-time Dakar winner and five-time world rally-raid cup champion Jean-Louis Schlesser is considered the favorite for victory in his self-built two-wheel drive, despite competing here for the first time in his career.
Defending truck category winner, Ales Loprais of the Czech Republic, will strive to repeat last year's success. Last year's car category champion Krzysztof Hołowczyc of the Polish Tatra team is not taking part.
Boris Gadasin and Ilya Kuznetsov are considered to be the strongest of Russia's racers.
This is the fourth edition of the Silk Way Rally, which was won in 2009 and 2010 by former World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz in the car category.
