WINTERTRIAL 2006  RECCE REPORT 

We, Bart Rietbergen and Bennie Roetgerink, have just completed the final recce for the route of The Winter Trial 2006. Here is what we found en route. 

DAY 1           ST. GERLACH-WEIMAR (550 km)

The first day is also the longest day of the rally, its starts with the traditional test on the grounds of the Valkenburg Casino.

After that, we drive through the rolling hills of the southern side of Sauerland, the first regularity will be a practise one for the Club Route but for the Trial Route competition has already started. Cobble stone roads in the little villages will later reveal that you have entered the former East German Republic.

The visit of the TC situated in the Wartburg museum will give you the real atmosphere of the former East German industry, a similar feeling will be experienced in the Russischer  Hof hotel in Weimar, amazingly enough this is one of the top hotels of the event!

  This picture was taken on the first regularity on day 1

DAY 2           WEIMAR-LIBEREC (440 km)

For those who have never visited the Czech Republic before, there are still plenty of sights that show the old communist influence. You can tell that living on the snow covered farmland must have been Siberic. It goes without saying that driving here is only possible on (Vredestein) winter tires. What a pity that The Winter Trial only takes place in 8 weeks from now because every regularity we drove was covered with snow from Start to finish….

At the lunch halt in Bozi Dar Bennie found him self surrounded by herds of sled dogs, a popular sport in this area whilst Bart’s Landrover was freeing a local in his Octavia out of the deep fresh snow  (bring a double long towing rope). 

Competition today will consist of  a lap consistency test at the circuit of Most as well as a series of regularities.

DAY 3           LIBEREC-OLOMOUC (360km)

As we go deeper into the hart of the CZ the language barrier becomes bigger no French spoken here nor Dutch or English just a tiny bit of German if you are lucky, however, big smiles on the faces of the bar owners that we show the rally brochures. Coffees are offered to us right away and you can hear the people think these westerners must be crazy to come here in winter!!!!

Again all the regularities were on snow covered roads with one exception, were there was ice!! So far, both navigator and driver have had plenty of opportunity to show their skills.

DAY 4           OLOMOUC-BRATISLAVA (350 km)

Today is a navigators dream (or night mare..), now you can really show what you’re worth.

Crossing the border into Slowakia is quick and painless, the currency  changes from CZ krone into slightly cheaper Slowakia krone. If you fill up near the main controls (credit cards are widely accepted) and because all the lunches are paid for by the organisation very little local money is needed. In Bratislava you should take the opportunity to walk into the old town which is now fully rebuilt and shows you its original grandeur. The newly built hotel Danube in Bratislava is a welcome step back in western luxury and gives you a fantastic view over the Danube.

DAY 5           BRATISLAVA- LINZ  (370 km)

This day we start with a fascinating test on the grounds of The Driving Camp.

The surfaces may take you by surprise, from extremely slippery to ……! It will give the better driver a chance to gain valuable seconds on his fellow competitors on this 3 km long test. The Austrian country side will  be highly appreciated after our excursion in the former East Block. Navigation in Austria seems to get a bit easier. The Trial competitors will start to get nervous now,  is the night loup going to give the final result?

DAY 6           LINZ-SANKT WOLFGANG ( 180 KM )

To give the Trial competitors a full night rest we will have a late start. A good number of motorway km’s and the final regularity will bring you into the picturesque village of Sankt Wolfgang.

Did route master Mark Appleton have another sting in the tail? Did he use the route that Timo Rietbergen used for the Vredestein winter tire test? Or are we just cruising to yet another “Apfelstrudel” in Sankt Wolfgang?

Sankt Wolfgang is the finish location of the 2006 Winter Trial, as usual from the Gluhwein at the finish line, till your last drink in the bar after the price giving party, it is all on us.  

IMPORTANT NOTE:

You are obligated to have you car fitted with winter tires and at least one set of snow chains in the boot (see next official bulletin).

See you at the start in St Gerlach.