On March 20–21, 14-time motor sports record-holder Andrey Leontyev and ice captain Alexander Burmeyster set an absolute record (1) on the Volkswagen Touareg by achieving the greatest average speed on ice over the 1000-km distance. They used a production vehicle as well as standard tires and service fluids.
The looped route of Andrey Leontyev’s crew extended from the southern end of Lake Olkhon to the northernmost point of Lake Baikal — the village of Nizhneangarsk, before returning to the start point. The car did not leave the ice surface over the entire route and stopped only at score and refueling points as well as in situations with zero visibility.
The crew covered the 1037-km route in 19 hours and 16 minutes. The average speed in motion was 73 km/h, the overall average speed on the GPS devices – 53 km/h. These are record figures. Now the organizers of the drive are expecting confirmation from the Russian Book of Records for the established record “The greatest average speed developed by a production vehicle over the 1000-km distance on ice”.
To set the record, Volkswagen Passenger Cars provided a serial production 204 hp Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 V6 TDI without the Off-Road package, equipped with the MICHELIN Latitude X-Ice North 2+ tires.
“My impressions of the new Touareg in two words: an honest and robust vehicle. Modern vehicles are largely ‘plastic’, and even SUVs very often become nothing else but their own imitation. Volkswagen Touareg is a robust car which can be trusted, both with the off-road Terrain-Tech package and without it. Of course, without the Terrain-Tech package the driver should assess the situation and own actions in a more critical way, but if the driver understands what is needed, then the absence of the off-road package sets no limits at all. This has been confirmed during the record drive”, said Andrey Leontiev.
Three Volkswagen Touaregs were used as support cars. Two of them were diesel 3.0 V6 TDI cars (204 and 245 hp) fitted with an 8-speed automatic transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel drive. The other one was 3.6 FSI (249 hp) also fitted with 8-speed automatic transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel drive.
The new Volkswagen Touareg is available for ordering in all official dealerships of the brand from December 2014.
The Touareg offers the largest panoramic roof in its class; Area View with four cameras to view obstacles without leaving the car; Lane Assist to assist in lane keeping; Side Assist warning of vehicles approaching from behind when lane-changing; the ACC adaptive cruise control system, which together with Front Assist brings the car to a full stop in emergencies; and bi-xenon headlights with Dynamic Light Assist.
The MICHELIN Latitude X-Ice North 2+ tires, new tires from Michelin due to go on sale in Russia in autumn 2015, are designed for various types of SUVs and can be used in the most severe winter conditions. The new tires provide better grip on snow and ice and perform equally well on dry and wet surfaces. Compared to the MICHELIN Latitude X-Ice North 2, these tires have a shorter (by 10%) braking distance and improved (by 15%) acceleration on ice, as well as a shorter (by 5%) braking distance and improved (by 10%) acceleration on ice. The tire also provides 10% better stud retention.
1) The application for confirmation of the record “The greatest average speed developed by a production vehicle over the 1000-km distance on ice” is being reviewed by the Russian Book of Records.
Interesting Facts
• 1037 km completed in 19 hours and 16 minutes;
• average speed in motion – 73 km/h;
• overall average speed on the GPS devices – 53 km/h;
• 45 km driving in deep snow;
• wind during the driving varied from completely calm to 25 m/s;
• 14 times the crew was “jumping” on the Touareg through the cracks in the ice;
• several times the crew had to stop and wait out the storm, as the visibility was zero.
Background Information 
Andrey Leontyev is a race driver, TV journalist, traveler and director of the companies LAV Racing и LAV Productions which organize record setting events. He holds 14 motor sports records of Russia and is a world champion in water motor sports in endurance races (similar to Le Mans Series) of 2011. A bronze winner of the Rally Raid Russian Championship 2013. A multiple winner of rally raid and autocross competitions. A participant of marathons Silk Way Rally 2010 (a driver in the KAMAZ-Master crew) and 2013 (a driver of the IRITO-Sport Great Wall crew).
Alexander Burmeyster is a scientist, traveler and Baikal researcher. A founder of the League of Ice Captains. An organizer and participant of multiple expeditions at Lake Baikal. A world record holder of the average speed on ice over the 415-km distance.