The crew of Dmitry Sotnikov (co-pilot Ruslan Akhmadeev and mechanic Ivan Romanov) was first to go to the ceremonial start of the Silk Way Rally on the Red Square which start was given in the evening of 8 July. This right was given to the sportsmen as they won the race with the route Moscow-Astrakhan in 2013. By the way, 2013 was a lucky year for Sotnikov’s crew. The sportsmen won the Silk Way Rally and Africa Eco Race. Being SWR champions the KAMAZ members will participate under the number 300. The crews have a goal to support teammates as they play a role of a “fast assistance”. However, during the race everything can change.
While the crew of Dmitry Sotnikov was opening the race, Dakar champions Eduard Nikolaev, Airat Mardeev and Andrey Karginov had an autograph session organized by RED BULL. The session was planned for several minutes but in fact it took more than an hour. And if they didn’t have to start they could give autographs till late night. It is interesting to mention that a lot of motorsport fans came in T-shirts and caps of the team. Children were not shy to ask autographs for their friends as well.
The fans didn’t only have a chance to meet with their favorite sportsmen but also see an extemporary exhibition with the race suits and helmets of the sportsmen, trophies from the previous rallies Silk Way Rally.
One stand was dedicated to KAMAZ-master team leader, seven-time winner of the truck category in Dakar, whose record still hasn’t been beaten. Fans could see his helmet and gloves in which Vladimir won his fifth Dakar. Among unusual exponents you could see a matreshka with the portrait of the legendary pilot. However the exhibition organizers didn’t tell what was inside it.
But the main interest was risen to the race KAMAZ. There was a queue of people who wanted to take a photo of themselves with the “Blue Armada” truck on the background.
After the start of KAMAZ-master crew only a few hours were left for rest. On 9 July at 2 a.m. the team started for Kazan, where the first day of the competition was planned.
