Ilgizar Mardeev announced the completion of his competitive career.
12.03.2013
The pilot of «KAMAZ-master» team Ilgizar Mardeev officially declared that he will not participate any more in rally raids as a pilot of sports crew.
I.Mardeev: Certainly, I’m a little bit sad. This completion of a certain life phase and it is not easy to leave something significant in your life. I remember, a few years ago, I didn't go at on one of the races, I was really sick at heart!
The decision was made last year before Dakar. We wanted to see how our young guys will show themselves...
We obtained a great result. Now we see that our guys can cope with such difficult task. We have now 5 good pilots. We plan to participate in all stages of the Russian championship where trucks are admitted and where we have time to take part, trainings in the Moroccan sands. According to results, we will decide who will go on the most difficult competitions the Silk Way Rally and Dakar.
I want to continue to be a useful for the team. My participation as a team leader of the mechanics group on the race is assumed. In any case, the part of me will be always there, I will be always mentally with guys.
V. Chagin: Ilgizar began his biography of the pilot in the early 90's. For all these years he showed himself as an excellent sportsman, and the most important, as a reliable pilot. That's why the difficult role of the pilot of the fast assistance truck was entrusted to him. Ilgizar's car was loaded with extra spare parts up to 1,5 tons. And with such load he always rode fast, trying to be as close as possible to our leading crews to assist if necessary. We were always calm on the track when Ilgizar was behind. Certainly, Ilgizar's great services are in all 11 victories of the team.
For many years Ilgizar leads preparation of our cars for competitions, he is the production manager. And during competitions he will head the work of mechanics that will allow us to prepare better cars during night repairs. We always needed such specialist.
