After the initial drivers briefing the team set out for the first two challenges the Corsa City Tour and the the Insignia Cruise...

Everybody got involved...trying to make sure that their participant performed the best...

05:43 a.m. “That’s my price to paaaaaaay…” Now I do agree that choosing old good Staind – Cross To Bear as alarm tune was not such a good idea… Anyway – woohoo! – I woke up in time didn’t miss the plane... yet :) Great day is ahead – EcoFlex Experience Finals in Denmark/Sweden is about to start. Soon will meet with Vladimir (Russian Greenest Driver) and Maksim (Za Rulem observer) in Sheremetyevo airport. The key task for now – not to wake up the family…

UPD: Didn’t succeed. Big sister is watching me :)

06:51 a.m. How often do you see dusk that looks like dawn? On the way to the airport…

08:fourty something a.m. In the airport. Waiting for Vladimir to arrive from St. Pete. Something tells me that complete mess in Sheremetyevo terminals will perform its role in this morning play…

UPD: Starting to hate my inner voice – Vladimir’s plane landed somewhere else and not where we expected it to land. Urgent regrouping of the transfer team – go, go, go!

UPD2: All three together. The most challenging part of the event is over :)

10:37. Boarding… It looks like something is definitely wrong with my hair… Or smile?.. Or speech?.. There should be a particular reason why we were seated in the last row of half-empty plane?

UPD: The flight is delayed. Sitting and listening to Vladimir’s strategy… Attention! It sound like a winning one :)

11:50. Landed in Denmark. Found our bus. Looking forward to hit the wheel.

15:00 Opening ceremony. All the contestants look concentrated and a bit nervous. Vladimir is not an exception :)

Some time after the ceremony: ready to test the track. White/Green Merivas, Insignias and Corsas are waiting for the greenest drivers.

To summarize Day 1:

Practice was really cool and useful. Now time for developing THE tactics. Tomorrow will start live shooting with my FlipCam!

Stay tuned!

[posted by Vijay Iyer on behalf of the Russian Team]

Almost felt like World Cup all over again, when our host Thomas Ranft drew the final groups for the competition day. The competitors gathered at the Royal Playhouse in Copenhagen for dinner eagerly awaiting the final draw.

(download)

Click here to download:

opel-vauxhall-ecoflex-experience-day-1-the-final-draw-qbqHCloddjFwvqikGbjm.zip (24.53 MB)

....have a look at Group A...now that would have been in interesting mix for a qualification group at the world cup ;o)