Today many people know the legendary Expedition Trophy Race as the longest winter car race in the world. The race is traditionally held from February 23rd to March 8th across Russia from Murmansk to Vladivostok. In 2010 it was held from the White Sea to the Black Sea. More than 30 SUVs comprised of teams from all over the world take part in this spectacular race! There is a minimum of one woman per team. World records, lasting relationships, and unforgettable moments are a huge part of every person’s experience at this legendary event.

Year 2004

March 4, 2004. Two SUVs started their travel from Moscow to Vladivostok to create a route for the future race. The first team was called “Expedition” and the team consisted of five men and one woman. This team setup became the prototype for future teams. Much of the route went through almost impassable areas and rugged terrain, including the ice of Lake Baikal. On May 17th team “Expedition Trophy” finished in Vladivostok after 10000km in 11 days and 18hours. In 2005 the decision was made to prolong the route and make it go from Murmansk to Vladivostok through Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Year 2005

“The hardest part of creating the first winter transcontinental race was believing it was possible”, say the creators of the project. Most work was done through brainstorming sessions.

“I told the idea to Sacha Davidov – professional traveler and the marshal of Camel-Trophy” – remembers the main organizer of the “Expedition Trophy” Alexandr Kravtsov. His first reaction was: “This is a super project! It will definitely come together!”

A month later 70 teams came to the regional qualifying rounds from all over the world. But only 34 could take part in the “Expedition-Trophy 2005” race. First prize was 10 kilos of gold, second prize 3 kilos, and 1 kilo to the third place team. All the finalists received gold medals made out of a final kilo of gold.

The route of the race was divided into seven stages. On every stage the last three to seven teams to finish were dropped from the race. Teams from Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Yugoslavia, Germany, Bulgaria and USA were represented.

The coordination center of the race was set up in Moscow. All teams were monitored in live time, through GPS navigators.

A train that consisted of 15 cars followed the race. It contained a press center and covered everything throughout the course of the event. TV and radio stations, magazines and news papers from all over the world followed the race. Four documentary films were also created about the race. The train carried reserve members, in case somebody was not fit to continue in the competition. Each team was allowed to replace up to one member.

“Expedition Trophy” set 5 world records:

• The longest winter track for an automobile race – 15 800km.
• The longest train route Moscow-Murmansk-Vladivostok-Moscow
• The largest number of women participating in a winter car race
• The largest mass event on the Ice of Lake Baykal
• The fastest finish of the longest winter car race.

Year 2006

On March 8, 2006 the second transcontinental SUV race “Expedition Trophy” finished in Vladivostok. This race started on February 23 near the lighthouse in Murmansk. The prize was the same – 10 kg of gold. Each team consisted of three participants and needed to have at least one woman. 28 teams from Russia, Latvia, UK and US participated in the race.

In addition to gold prizes teams were allowed to vote on which other teams should win the “Navigation” and “Expedition” prize. The winners of these were voted on by the participants themselves after the race.

The length of the race was prolonged to 16900km and new stages were added. This way the race would create a new world record. The first team to cross the snow field and deep trench in the last special stage was a team from Ekaterinburg “Mult and Co”. They happily took home their 10 kg gold first prize.

The “Navigation” prize was awarded to another team from Ekaterinburg “Off-Road Club — Arsenal A”, One point behind was the Latvian team “4×4”, and third place was a tie between team “Mult and Co” and team “Vimpel” from Moscow.

The winner of the “Expedition” prize was team “Pride” from Moscow.

In 2006 it was decided “Expedition Trophy” should only take place once every two years.

Year 2008

In 2008 the “Expedition Trophy” race took place for a third time. 35 teams from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan started the race. It was divided into the open race, Murmansk – Arkhangelsk, where anyone who could put together the SUV and a team of three people was allowed to participate; and the Golden race, where only 10 teams could participate. On the 25th of March all three winning teams were from Murmansk; “Galant-Auto”, “Zero” and “Arctic-Trophy”.

This year first prize was 9 kg of Gold. The teams went 16 000km through several special stages, one of which was a 250km race on the Ice of the Baikal Lake. “Mult and Co” won for a second time and got the “Expedition Trophy”. The “Expedition” prize and 1kg of gold went the Moscow team “Drifters”.

Year 2010

In 2010 the start and finish locations were changed. The race went from the White Sea to the Black sea. The hardest stage of the race was through the Caucasus Mountains, as the winter conditions made it treacherous. The participant’s goal was to discover as many mineral springs as possible alone the way. After the final stage, the participants themselves chose three teams to take part in the competition for the “Orange Catamaran Prize” and the opportunity to take part in an expedition through the North Seas on orange sailed catamarans, taking place summer 2011. The final part of the competition took place on the sea; the first team to reach the shore and win the “Expedition Trophy” was a team from Russia and Kazakhstan “Domovenok Kuzja”. The “Navigation” prize was won by another team from Russia and Kazakhstan “Off the Road”

The next Expedition Trophy will take place in 2012.

The Expedition Group is pleased to invite you to join the Expedition Trophy for a once in a lifetime press coverage event! This extraordinary race will be held from February 23 – March 8, 2012! Coverage of the Expedition trophy is seen worldwide and the Expedition Group would be delighted to show you what makes the Expedition Trophy a truly world record setting event! Please contactinternational@expedition.com with press questions or travel information. We look forward to expeditioning with you in Russia!

Visit home page – http://expedition-trophy.ru/