Press releases

3 Jun 2019

Winners of Brest-Minsk leg of Electric Marathon honored in Minsk

MINSK, 3 June (BelTA) - The winners of the Brest-Minsk leg of the International Electric Marathon “Peace Rally” were honored in a ceremony in front of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus on 3 June, BelTA has learned.

The organizers of the marathon, which spans through ten European countries, aim to popularize electric transport and to show that the car with an electric engine can drive from Monte Carlo to St. Petersburg.

In Minsk the winners were awarded by Belarus NOC Acting First Vice President Viktor Lukashenko. Pobeda placed third in the Brest-Minsk leg. The famous Soviet car has been converted by its owner into an electric vehicle and can cover more than 300km without having to recharge. The second and first places were taken by Tesla cars. The silver went to Estonian Team Success, the gold to the International University of Monaco led by Christjan Esnaux.

“The rally aims to draw attention to the issues of environmental protection and to promote e-transport. Participants have traveled across Belarus and tested the quality of roads and service at fillinf stations for electric vehicles. This project should contribute to the development of the electric vehicle charging stations network in our country,” Viktor Lukashenko said.

He wished the pilots a safe finish in St Petersburg and invited the participants of the rally to attend the 2nd European Games.

According to Belorusneft Deputy Director General Andrei Kotik, Belorusneft has built more than 100 electric car charging stations. “By the end of 2019 the number of charging stations will double. In 2020 their number will exceed 500,” he stressed.

Organizer of the rally, Honorary Consul of Monaco in Estonia, two-time Olympic medalist Juri Tamm stated that the event, supported by Prince of Monaco Albert II since 2011, fulfills three main tasks: environmental, educational and sports one.

Juri Tamm gave Viktor Lukashenko a set of commemorative awards and also the commemorative medal of Andrei Nagel who took part in the St. Petersburg-Monte Carlo rally in 1912.

The participants of the rally will arrive at the national range to test electric cars of the United Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and get familiar with an exhibition of Belarusian electric transport. Taking part in the rally will be electric cars designed by the United Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences.

The international electric car rally kicked off in Monte Carlo on 27 May and will finish in St. Petersburg on 6 June.