Off-road racing rally in Inner Mongolia

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2016-09-30

The 2016 China Grand Rally kicked off at the Baotou International Exhibition Center in Baotou, a city of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sept 25.

Zhao Hongxi (left) and Armand Hernandez (right), both from the Red Bull KTM Star team, pose at the starting line of the 2016 China Grand Rally at the Baotou International Exhibition Center in Baotou, a city of Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sept 25. [Photo/Xinhua]

The motor rally attracted over 50 teams with 120 racers from China and abroad to the competition, which will cover challenging, sparse desert landscapes on unforgiving rocky roads.

The nine-day competition will span a distance of more than 3,900 kilometers. Racers started in Baotou and will travel through many other cities and counties in Inner Mongolia before they enter Northwest China’s Gansu province and the Ningxia Hui autonomous region. The final leg finishes in Alxa Left Banner on Oct 3.

As the only cross-province motor-rally in China, it has been recognized by the Federation International Automobile (FIA), and known as one of the longest and toughest motor contests in the world.

An off-road car passes through a section of desert during the 2016 China Grand Rally held in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sept 25. [Photo/Xinhua]

Cars line up to cross a river during the 2016 China Grand Rally held in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Sept 25. [Photo/Xinhua]