ICB: Northern Forest Baja preview

A rally-raid of the world's level -- the "Saint-Petersburg -- Northern Forest" Baja 2009, the 2nd round of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and the 1st event in the Russian Cross-Country Championship, - will be held in the region of Saint-Petersburg at the end of February.

Only for the first time will Saint-Petersburg host a round of one of the world's most prestigious rally-raid series. Last year the competition was run as a candidate event, and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA, world motorsport governing body) highly praised the quality of organisation and the competitive side of such a unique race -- the only snow and ice Baja in the world.

This year, being a real round of the Cup, the Baja in Saint-Petersburg will become first in the season where sportsmen can collect points to their tally: formally "Northern Forest" stays the 2nd event in the FIA series, however the first round, to be held in Saudi Arabia, unfortunately won't count for points, thus making the Russian Baja the first points-scoring opportunity for crews and their teams.

A media centre, providing journalists with all the necessary information, photographs and videos, will operate during the event. The new advanced system of tracking competitors and on-line web-cameras, mounted in the most interesting places of the route, will allow following the race live from the media room.

We invite all media to come to our race and take part in broadcasting a significant event in the world of rally-raids -- the 2nd round of the FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and the 1st event in the Russian Cross-Country Championsip, the "Saint-Petersburg -- Northern Forest" Baja 2009! Please take into account that invitations for Russian visas will be made at the expense of the Organiser. We are also ready to assist you in booking a good accommodation, transportation between the main venues of the event (providing seats in the organisers' bus or finding a suitable rent-a-car offer) and other issues related to you visit.

-credit: northern-forest.ru