After almost 5,500 kilometres of driving, the Mazda3s involved
in the 2013 Mazda3 Hiroshima to Frankfurt Challenger Tour have
arrived in Krasnoyarsk, Russia in perfect shape.
Russia offers drivers some of the toughest road conditions
anywhere in the world. A land of extremes, winter temperatures drop
as low as minus-forty degrees Celsius, while over the last few days
the convoy has experienced weather in the low 30s with high
humidity.
Add to that rough road surfaces, large pot holes that can
swallow up a Mazda2 in its tracks and long days in the cockpit, the
gruelling trek across Russia on route to Frankfurt has been a
challenge to car and mind, but thanks to the luxurious comfort of
the All-New Mazda3 interior, not to body.
With three of seven stages completed, the eight Mazda3s arrived
in Krasnoyarsk - the third largest town in Siberia and home to
nearly a million Russians - and headed straight to a Mazda
dealership for a standard check.
Highly skilled Mazda mechanics inspected every car, paying
special attention to the suspension, underbody, air filters and
other components exposed to unusual levels of abuse. With the
hatchbacks performing superbly, save for a puncture or two, all
eight were ready for the fourth stage.
A driver change in Krasnoyarsk saw a fresh group of media arrive
ahead of the 2,503 kilometre fourth stage to Barnaul, just north of
the Kazakhstan border. The latest group includes a journalist from
the Australian edition of Top Gear magazine.
The 2013 Mazda3 Hiroshima to Frankfurt Challenger Tour is an
event modelled on long-distance drives held in 1977 and 1990. Over
30 days, eight All-New Mazda3 hatchbacks will complete seven stages
across two continents, five countries and through over 30 cities,
arriving at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on September 7.
The goal is to test the All-New Mazda3's reliability, durability
and the outstanding performance of SKYACTIV Technology in some of
the world's toughest driving conditions.
For more information contact:
Steve Maciver
Public Relations Manager
(03) 8540 1961
0437 125 589
smaciver@mazda.com.au
Tony Mee
Public Relations Specialist
+61 (0)3 8540 1962
+ 61 (0)439 347 658
tmee@mazda.com.au