Тill the last day of the race it wasn’t clear who would win in the truck category. The 14th stage promised to put the things right. For the final leg the caravan was to go across the desert, endless dangerous dunes. Sportsmen were surprised that the sands spread for 70 km without a single oasis. All the contestants found the stage perfect for the final.
Till the last moment there was a fight for the 3rd position on the podium between Martin van den Brink and Eduard Nikolaev #310. From the very beginning the Dutch didn’t give a rest to KAMAZ-master team. You can see it in the classification during the race. Eventually Brink had to descent to the third place because of various breakdowns. Then Airat Mardeev #306 took the lead and Dmitry Sotnikov #300 (winner of Silk Way Rally-2013) followed him. Eduard Nikolaev tried hard to catch up but couldn’t because of the breakdown on the 14th stage.
“The last special was lucky for us, - says Nikolaev. – We were driving at a good speed and reached the middle of the distance when our shock absorber broke. Its shatters got into the ventilator and crushed it. Also the radiator was punctured. We hadto stop for a repair. The repair took us 45 min, but even after it we could win back the time. We caught up almost all trucks that had passed us by.”
The day before organizers had promised a challenging final leg and kept their word. “I wish we had more specials like that on Dakar. Today’s winners don’t only have good vehicles but good physical training as well. I am satisfied with the work of my new truck and the work of my crew. In my opinion my navigator Evgeny Yakovlev and mechanic Vladimir Rybakov deserve to get the first place in that race. And I finished only on the fourth position. They did their job for 100%. I made somemistakes but I will improve.”
Eduard Nikolaev told that these sands were not so difficult as he had expected, because when he reached dunes leading crews already made peaks flatter, so all other vehicles drove on trodden path.
Dmitry Sotnikov didn’t believe that he took the second position. He was worried that he started under number 300, as there’s a superstition among racers that a number with two zeros brings bad luck.
“I constantly thought about it and tried to hold myself up, tried to be accurate, - said Dmitry Sotnikov. – The race was difficult but we tried to keep the speed. Technically everything was good, we even didn’t change a single wheel. This race we had a new co-pilot and he only builds up his experience. I’m very happy that we won this challenge and improved our skills.”
By the last leg Airat Mardeev #306 had some time advantage, therefore he could enjoy last kilometers of the Silk Way Rally.
“We drove a bit slower because we didn’t see anybody in mirrors. We had an opportunity to admire beautiful landscape. Believe me, we seldom have such an opportunity. I can’t say that sands are very challenging for us, but we always remembered that things are not always what they seem, sometimes dunes are very dangerous. The truck worked without failing. I am very grateful to mechanics that they prepared such a good vehicle. Navigator Aidar Belyaev and mechanic Dmitry Svistunov did their job very well. It is our common victory.”
Now the sportsmen will have an opportunity to recover strength. Tomorrow on 24 July during the 15th stage they will have to overcome liaison 500 km long and go up the podium in Beijing.
