Africa Race. Anton Shibalov: harmless-looking dunes created a lot of problems

Morning incident with Schlesser’s return to the start didn't cause surprises at this stage, but the sand, which didn't seem at first sight difficult, shuffled much the standings. Anton Shibalov rose to a second position in the overall. Tomas Tomecek became the third at this stage, that's why he was waiting for Moorish sands. Tomecek said that he saw Elizabeth Jacinto’s crew which was digging out in sand before dunes (it was somewhere at the 300 km). At 19:30 Jacinto’s Assistance crew left the bivouac to help her.

Anton Grigorov, pilot of "Vnesheconombank" team: "Very soft sand, when we got out, the ramp stuck so that two men weren’t able to get it out! But we managed to do it! We were driving well, with pleasure, in spite of stage’s difficulties: I crushed the front part of my car, broke the springs, Maris stopped in 5 km from the finish without fuel. Today I overtook those who did the same with me on rocks! I could overtake everybody except KAMAZ and Schlesser, I started 19th, and I dug twice for a total of 40 minutes. For others it was more difficult, I think! Sands were so soft that when we set a flag on the bivouac, the flagpole entered on 3.5 m in the sand. The biggest "organizational" emotion at this race - after each finish I’m interviewed, very nice, thanks to the organizers for such an attitude. Russians show good results here, and I want to take occasion to say hallo to fans!"

Jerome Pelichet, the pilot of crew №202: "Everything began very well, at first there was a small navigational error, but we were able to make up for lost time. We started sixth, but before the dunes we were already third. We saw KAMAZ, wanted to see how he copes with the dunes, and then we got into the hollow. We had no more chances, because there was very sticky sand, we lost a lot of time. I think we were to the right of the correct route. Here dunes were bigger and more complicated, and of course we lost again a lot of time. At the finish we understood that we had a problem with the engine and electronics damages. We also changed the tires; put softer ones, because what we had today do not take the form of sand, and the sand is quite viscous. Today, we will repair the car and tomorrow we go again in fight! We will try to regain the position on the podium, and be at least at third place. KAMAZ took my second place. But this is a race! Today it was a stage for trucks, very high-speed. It’s true that the truck is stronger in dunes and it has more chances. "

Anton Shibalov, pilot of the crew №401: "We know the Moroccan sands, but we saw for the first time the Moorish sand. Harmless-looking dunes created a lot of problems. The sand was very viscous. On such surface the car goes very hard, at the slightest wheel turning we felt that it is not enough of power. Usually we drive in sands with a tire pressure of two atmospheres. And here we had to deflate to one and a half, sometimes to one, when the car stock. We can’t move on at this pressure, that’s why when we got out, we raised the pressure in the tires up to one and a half. By practical consideration we came to the conclusion that we have to go where there are hillocks and grass, the sand is denser there, but there were areas where there was no grass at all. But today, we were lucky, we didn’t dig. We would like to see very much Tomecek in the sands, he has a great experience in the African races, and perhaps tomorrow we will be able to see him. "

Certainly, one should not forget that our crew takes part in such race for the first time, guys are for the first time in Africa, and their today’s success - it is a confirmation of the highest efficiency of "KAMAZ-Master" school, which actively and effectively churn out the "production" of sportsmen. Nikolaev, Mardeev, Karginov replaced Chagin, and now these graduates, absorbed the experience of their famous mentors - Mardeev, Savostin, Belyaev, please fans. The racers training school existence is a very important step in the future, this is our reserve and today we test it. There are still a lot of difficulties, but we are pleased with today's result, regardless of what tomorrow will bring.

Svetlana Klimova