Crews of Eduard Nikolaev (co-pilot Evgeny Yakovlev, mechanic Bogdan Karimov) and Dmitry Sotnikov (co-pilot Ruslan Akhmadeev, mechanic Ilgiz Akhmetzianov) will take part on the third stage of the FIA World Cup for Cross-country Rallies – Rally Kazakhstan 2019, which will go along Mangystau region in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Both crews will perform on trucks KAMAZ 43509, tested on Dakar-2019.
The total distance of the race will be about 2500 km, 2000 km of which are special sections.
The race organizers changed the last-year route a bit, added more sands, reduced length of specials, and also tried to minimize liaisons for the comfort of contestants.
The director of Rally Kazakhstan Dmitry Makhenya said: “Changes will essentially affect the third and fifth stages of the rally – starting points were changed in them, due to which additional sand sections appeared. Sands in this region are distinguished by their guile, as they are covered with vegetation and this increases the complexity. The unique landscape of Mangystau region has a diverse surface: one day there can be stones, sand, therefore contestants will have to choose the right tire pressure.”
We hope that our crews will overcome all difficulties.
QUOTES:
Sergey Savostin, team-manager: “To Rally Kazakhstan 2019 go Eduard Nikolaev and Dmitry Sotnikov. Both crews will not take part in the Silk Way Rally-2019, that is connected with their participation in the partnership projects (with REDBULL company) in Turkey and the UK. And the race in Kazakhstan is considered as their preparation to Dakar 2020.
Routes in Kazakhstan are very interesting, there are mainly steppes, a lot of dirt field roads, and what is important for us – sands. The plus point is also the fact that this is the closest race for us, with the conditions we need. We can check how our trucks are prepared to heavy sands. The race in Kazakhstan is long – 6 days, which will also allow carrying out tests for resource. “
Eduard Nikolaev, driver: “For me it will be an interesting journey, I haven’t taken part in Rally Kazakhstan for a long time (if we are talking specifically about the Kazakhstan race), the last time was with Vladimir Chagin. But the Silk Way route often went through these areas. There have always been interesting routes: dunes, sands, very fast steppe roads.
This year Dakar-2020 will be held in Saudi Arabia, we looked at the map, the whole territory is in dunes and sands. Of course,it is necessary to train in similar conditions, test our trucks, changes that we have made. And Rally Kazakhstan is perfect. Andrey Karginov took part in this race last year. He told that everything was arranged well, specials are interesting, there are a lot of navigation tasks, which will be useful to our navigators.
Our crew faces with several tasks. The main is to test all novelties that will be used in future competitions. Racers don’t usually tell details about novelties before upcoming start of Dakar, generally, I can say that we continue to work with the truck steerability, suspension, weight of the truck and weight distribution, and certainly on general improvement of technical characteristics. The second task of our crew is connected with the new mechanic. Bogdan Karimov is going with us. It is second competition in his career and first of international level. For him it will be a serious challenge, we will try to pass on our experience and evaluate his physical and psychological condition”.
Dmitry Sotnikov, driver: “The route, where the race will go, is known to me from Silk Way Rally-2009, I remember all those places very well. The route is quite diverse, long. There are not so many races left in the calendar of such length, and this is what you need to test vehicles and get enough practice before such long races as Dakar and Silk Way Rally”.
Our aim is to pass it at our capabilities, show our level, test the truck. It is one of the trainings that leads us to Dakar.
I have the same crew, that was on the Gold of Kagan. Co-pilot is Ruslan Akhmadeev and mechanic is Ilgiz Akhmetzianov. Ilgiz is the least experienced among us three, this is just his third race. He will be the first time in Kazakhstan, he is looking forward to it. I think he will get a good experience, rise in his level. And the race length will allow him to understand rally-raids better”.
We have been driving with Ruslan since 2016, then he drove as a mechanic, but already tried himself as a navigator. It was right in Kazakhstan. Tracks here are especially cunning for navigators. Fast, a lot of roads, it is difficult to understand sometimes where to go. We are waiting for an exciting and interesting race”.
THE COMPETITION PROGRAM of Rally Kazakhstan 2019:
25 May: Administrative and technical checks for national class
26 May: Administrative and technical checks for FIA participants
26 May: Press conference at the official hotel of the race. Ceremonial start on the quay of the city of Aktau
27 May: 1st Stage (Aktau – Kenderly)
28 May: 2nd Stage (Kenderly – Kenderly)
29 May: 3rd Stage (Kenderly – Kenderly)
30 May: 4th Stage (Kenderly – Aktau)
31 May: 5th Stage (Aktau – Aktau)
1 June: 6th Stage (Aktau – Aktau)
1 June: Ceremonial podium on the embankment of the city of Aktau. Prizegiving Ceremony at the official rally hotel.
