The Gazpromneft filling station network has become an official fuel partner on the fifth transcontinental “Silk Way 2017” rally, using this opportunity to undertake further testing of its innovative “Diesel Opti” fuel, under extreme conditions.
Official rally off-roaders -the Toyota Land Cruiser 200, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and Toyota Hilux — will be running on the new fuel. In addition to which, Jaguar Land Rover Russia has provided fifth-generation Land Rover Discovery compact off-roaders for testing.
The Silk Way route is one of the longest and most complex in the world rally-raid programme, with participants on the marathon travelling a total 9,599 kilometres across Russia and Kazakhstan, before finishing in China. Almost half of the route — some 4,094 kilometres — involves high-speed closed-road special stages.
Silk Way International Rally Director Vladimir Chagin commented: “Under tense race conditions, crews simply don’t have the right to make a mistake — which is why we pay such close attention to choosing a fuel partner. The consistently high quality of Gazprom Neft fuel makes sure the crews are able to realise the full potential of their equipment and achieve the most effective results.”
Gazprom Neft Regional Sales Director Alexander Krylov added: "“Fuel quality has always been our priority: we place high demands on our products, and test them under the most extreme conditions. From that point of view, the Silk Way route is an ideal testing ground for our new Diesel Opti fuel. It has gone on sale for the first time at our filling stations in Siberia, and has, already, successfully passed tests under severe sub-zero temperatures. Which means it’s now time to test it under the heat and off-road conditions of Eurasia.”
The Gazpromneft filling station network totals approximately 1,400 filling stations throughout Russia and the CIS. The network’s extensive geographic range, coupled with the highly advantageous location of the company’s Omsk, Moscow and Yaroslavl refineries, continue to ensure Gazprom Neft’s leading position in the wholesale and retail markets of western Siberia and central Russia.
“Diesel Opti” is the first Russian-branded diesel fuel with improved performance characteristics, developed specifically for the Gazpromneft filling station network. Independent studies at international laboratories have demonstrated that regular use of Diesel Opti gently cleans engines, and reduces fuel consumption.
