We decided to dedicate the third post to women just like we do with the third toast. There is nothing unusual about it as long as the fair sex participates directly in the race. A great number of them do it on a regular basis.
It should be pointed out that women compete in all grand races. Not at least they are in charge of dinner and breakfast for the sportsmen in the kitchen, mastering casseroles and microwave ovens.
- It was my father who asked me to compete, – says Iryna Protasova, a competitor (crew number 731). – He is a driver and I am a co-driver. We trust each other completely. We have mastered many races together. We competed at Yalta rally alone 4 time in a row. We are thrilled with our fighting-fit VW Amarok. We drive through the places where the others crawl. Mostly due to a balanced diesel motor and weight distribution.
- What about your kid?
- I left him with his grandma, my mother. This is not for the first time. The kid got used to it anyway.
- Where did you get your desire to compete in the trophy?
- The thing is that my father wanted to try the trophy. We came a long way, trolled for sponsors. We are trying not to fail in the trust now We are not doing it for fun like many others. We wanna win. Except that I did not think it would be so difficult. I had to pick up stones and logs already. I am not used to any hard work. I am using my brain. I am no blond. I am often referred to as an astronaut by my girlfriends for I am better with such things like GPS navigation and cars than they are.
Tetyana (crew number 720), another no-blond was rather forced to race as well.
- My husband asked me to do it. I couldn’t say no. We have been participating in the motor sport for 4 years during which we touched every single screw in our car.
- Are you making any repairs?
- This is Borysovych’s thing (points to a man under the hood). I am more like a director, leader. The route going across a big area rather than going in circles around the camp is the reason we enjoyed the Ukraine Trophy. We even got our own superstitions. Last time, we stopped in Ovruch and washed our car. We lost the next round. Ever since we have tried not to wash the car until the competition is over.
- How about your husband shaving?
- It could also affect our score
Olena from crew 711 thinks nothing of superstitions. She is getting a kick out of the race despite the fact that she is competing in the trophy with a production car.
- I have been taking up the motor sport for 5 years. I am driving Suzuki Vitara for the first time. I bought it a year ago or so. It is not specially equipped for races even. I drive it in the city the same way. It raced earlier as a maintenance car. And now is my début, – says Olena.
A damper breaking away regularly is a weak spot of the 711 crew’s car. The racers decided to leave a rear bumper behind. There is no extra weight and the speed is not affected. And there is no way for us take up the speed…
Speaking of the third day race, most of the route was laid across forests and swampland where winches and ropes were of use for many competitors. A typical mutual racing support worked here. The crews helped each other regardless of any minutes lost en route.
Results of the second trophy day could not be processed in time due to a minor failure of a generator but all the data were recovered and preliminary scores can be observed at www.ukraine-trophy.com thanks to a well coordinated work of the judges
