Ukrainian Wounded Soldiers to Compete in Spanish Rally, Showcasing Revolutionary Off-Road Buggies
In an inspiring display of resilience and determination, Ukrainian wounded soldiers are set to compete in the Rallye TT Cuenca in Spain, showcasing revolutionary off-road buggies. The SKARLAT-XTRM Team, led by programme leader and Dakar Rally alumnus Vadim Pritulyak, will participate in the final round of the Spanish Cross-Country Rally Championship.
Pritulyak will take the wheel of a SKARLAT buggy, with Sergey Romanovsky as his navigator. Meanwhile, Olexandr Gonzul will assume the role of team director, overseeing Ivan Barbero as the pilot of a Toyota FJ Cruiser. Both entries will compete in the non-competition ParaBaja category, specifically designed for racers with limited mobility or disabilities.
The team was officially unveiled at a press conference, highlighting their incredible journey and the challenges they have overcome. With the exception of Barbero and the Toyota, the team consists entirely of Ukrainian co-drivers who served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine before sustaining serious injuries in combat against the Russian invasion.
Sergey Romanovsky lost his right leg in an accident during a battle in 2014, while Gonzul’s left arm and right leg were tragically destroyed by a land mine in 2022. However, both soldiers have shown remarkable strength and resilience, adapting with prosthetic limbs that enable them to walk again. Pritulyak, though his loss of vision in his right eye was not sustained in the war, also carries the scars of conflict as a result of botched medical treatment for an accident in 2018.
The formation of the SKARLAT-XTRM Team began to take shape in late July when Pritulyak’s friend Vladyslav Kushchynsky met with Natalia Bettonica, the director of ParaBaja Step by Step, at the Baja España Aragón. Following this meeting, the Real Federación Española de Automovilismo’s inclusivity committee formally invited the Automobile Federation of Ukraine to bring a wounded soldier to the Rallye TT Cuenca as a co-driver. Although Pritulyak was initially unaware of the offer, upon learning about it, he swiftly connected with Kushchynsky and agreed to assemble a full crew and their own vehicle.
The SKARLAT buggies, which Pritulyak and Romanovsky will race, are a Ukrainian UTV brand that has already been supplied to the military for testing purposes. They were specifically designed by Pritulyak, built upon the platform of the Massimo Warrior 1000 MXD Crew, to swiftly evacuate injured Ukrainian soldiers from the battlefield. Offering cost-effectiveness and enhanced off-road capabilities, these UTVs are easier to repair and more adaptable to challenging terrains than standard emergency vehicles.
Pritulyak hopes that their participation in the Rallye TT Cuenca will raise interest in the SKARLAT brand both domestically and internationally, capturing the attention of potential buyers. Beyond showcasing the buggies, the team’s main motivation is to shed light on the reality of the war in Ukraine and its consequences for soldiers. They also aim to draw attention and secure international funds for the purchase of similar buggies to aid in the evacuation of wounded soldiers within the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The SKARLAT-XTRM Team has garnered significant support from various individuals and organizations. Serhii Malyk, a Ukrainian daredevil and Dakar Rally participant, has thrown his weight behind the team. Additionally, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has responded positively to their goals, which adds further momentum to their cause.
Upon achieving success at the Rallye TT Cuenca, Pritulyak and Kushchynsky envision expanding the team’s reach and ParaBaja’s initiatives beyond Spain. They aim to participate in other countries like Hungary and Poland, both of which host the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas. Ultimately, their dream is to compete alongside traditional teams in the Dakar Rally, emulating the accomplished Race2Recovery program that saw British and American troops finish the 2013 and 2014 Dakar Rallies.
The participation of Ukrainian wounded soldiers in the Rallye TT Cuenca not only serves as a celebration of their resilience and determination, but also sheds light on the need for innovative and adaptable vehicles in conflict zones. By capturing international attention, the SKARLAT-XTRM Team hopes to contribute to the purchase of these buggies for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, thus aiding in the rehabilitation and evacuation of wounded soldiers.
