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China Tour - Lanzhou to Golmud
Leaving the age-old Silk Road the cars embarked on the third stage of the China tour, testing the vehicles at higher altitudes and on more demanding roads.
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti at Xining
Leaving the age-old Silk Road the Ferrari 612 Scagliettis headed off into the third stage of the China Tour. The tour visited the northernmost parts of the country and aimed for the peaks of Tibet. The Lanzhou-Golmud leg witnessed a sudden change in the climate and type of road surfaces to be negotiated. The higher altitudes brought more demanding roads that the Scagliettis coped with brilliantly.
In the evening of the 12 September 2005, the cars made their entrance into Golmud surrounded by green steppes and silver coloured rivers. Forming the background were the ever present and imposing mountains.
The Maranello 2+2 left Lanzhou on the morning of 13 September 2005 driven by Italian and US journalists. They headed for Xining, the jewel of the Quinghai region. The city is characterised by a huge Buddhist temple, the seventh largest in all of Tibet.
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
The Scagliettis entered the city, the key southern point on the Silk Road, and made for the Ta'Er temple. Set in lush mountainous vegetation, the complex has a mystical air about it. The detailed vision of the temple and the presence of an extremely strict order of monks living under the hierarchical 'Geluk Pa' regulations, only added to the fascination.
The crews reached an altitude of 2,300 metres and the destination was Chaka. The route was rich in yak and Tibetan goats herded by farmers. This leg caused some inconvenience for the cars and the silver Scaglietti had to have a tyre and wheel rim changed after running into a rock.
The cars got going again the next day along a much easier route. Golmud was reached after five hundred kilometres had been negotiated. From here it was on to the highest stretches...destination the very roof of the world.