On 13 November trucks of KAMAZ-master team started out the rally-marathon Dakar-2017".
Traditionally it was preceded by the review of the team on the test track in Tarlovka. Participation in the event was attended by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan - Rustam Minnikhanov.
Accompanied by the mayor of the city of Naberezhnye Chelny -Nail Magdeev, Deputy of the State Duma - Alfia Kogogina, General Director of KAMAZ - Sergey Kogogin, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport of RT - Khalil Shaikhutdinov, the head of the Republic took part in the seeing the cars of the team KAMAZ-master off on Dakar-2017.
The team leader Vladimir Chagin presented the riders and the assistance team, those who go to the main starts of the season in South America and Africa.
New sports season of the team will begin with participation in two major rallies Dakar and Africa Eco Race. Both races will be held early next year at the same time – from 2nd to 14th January.
President of Tatarstan was shown the machines, which will compete for victory in Dakar-201".
Acquainted with new truck technical solutions, improvements of several units and aggregates Rustam Minnikhanov personally tested one of the racing bolides at the testing area.
It will be recalled that Rustam Minnikhanov at different times, beeing at the wheel of sports "KAMAZ" has brought to the team six victories at prestigious international competitions.
Immediately after the event, the crews set a course for the French port of Le Havre, where the trucks will undergo preliminary scrutineering checks.
On 25 November the vehicles of European race competitors will be shipped on the ferry for transportation across the Atlantic to start in January 2 from the capital of Paraguay, Asuncion, a 9,000-kilometer trip to Buenos Aires.
Traditionally an uncompromising struggle is expected for the leadership in the trucks category of the Dakar rally. Main rivals of the Russian team "KAMAZ-master" are IVECO, MAN, RENAULT, SCANIA , TATRA mobilized all their resources for the race.
Africa Eco Race, with start in Monaco and finish in the Senegalese capital Dakar, takes place in the old African route of rally "Dakar".
The KAMAZ-master vehicles will go at it on their own on 20 December. In Africa KAMAZ-master will continue its "gas-engine" project implemented in partnership with VTB and Gazprom.
The gas and diesel "KAMAZ" of Sergey Kupriyanov's crew will take part in Africa Eco Race – 2017.
A kind of intrigue will be that the second Russian truck on the African race will be driven by the winner of Dakar-2014 Andrey Karginov and three-time winner of the Africa Eco Race, Anton Shibalov, will go to South America.
Quotations:
Rustam Minnikhanov, The President of The Republic of Tatarstan:
"I am very impressed how the car runs and how brake and suspension systems work. I can give an example: if we passed the highway on any modern jeep at high speed, the front or rear axles would bounce, but "KAMAZ" did not even feel it and could easily go. It is very important that pilot, driving on a race for 6, 7, 8 hours, will not get tired. The machine is prepared very well, it is clear that competitors are not asleep, we will assume that this is a championship car", – shared his impressions of the visit, the President of the Republic.
Nail Magdeev, the mayor of the city of Naberezhnye Chelny:
"The city of Naberezhnye Chelny – is the most loyal fans of the KAMAZ-Master team, and the “Blue Armada" is an example of will and perseverance for the oncoming generation. KAMAZ-master is a special case in the history of the country automotive industry. It is not only a national brand, it is, first of all, people. Every sports car from the beginning to the end is developed and assembled by the hands of professionals. Seeing at the next rally-marathon, hope that guys will show the character, and we will meet them with the awards again."
Sergey Kogogin, the General Director of “Kamaz”:
Dakar is a kind of race in which any little thing can throw the team back, and help to get ahead. We have very serious rivals. All the major manufacturers undertook the preparation of their trucks to participate in this race. It is not race of amateurs, this is a race of professionals. The whole year our team worked and prepared the trucks. Much attention was paid to physical training of athletes as the five-day race will go in the mountainous areas on height from 3500 to 4800 meters. Imagine what it is for a person who just goes so high, but he still needs to drive a vehicle, navigate the terrain and avoid mistakes. The whole complex of tasks in preparation of cars and crews, from my point of view, was solved by the team. Now we will wait for the result."
Vladimir Chagin, the head of “Kamaz – Master” team:
"Today's vehicle differs from the vehicle of the previous year. What could be improved in it, we have improved. But the same work, no less, I'm sure, was done by our rivals. Actively prepared for the season IVECO, MAN, RENAULT, SCANIA, TATRA. We will have an interesting contention. Leading teams also listed 4-5 crews. All go one, to be on the podium. Our fans and partners of course will be actively rooting for us. I am very pleased that our boards appeared a new logo: TOTAL, Mercedes, Continental, Rostech. And just this week we signed a contract with "Tatneft". Very timely and necessary, because we had serious financial difficulties in the end of the year and the "Tatneft" company has helped us a lot before the forthcoming races of Dakar and Africa Eco Race".
TEAM CREWS “KAMAZ – MASTER” ON A RALLY “DAKAR – 2017”
Pilot A. Mardeev, co-pilot A. Belyaev, mechanic D. Svistunov.
Pilot E. Nikolaev, co-pilot E. Yakovlev, mechanic V. Rybakov.
Pilot D. Sotnikov, co-pilot R. Akhmadeev, mechanic I. Leonov.
Pilot A. Shibalov, co-pilot R. Amatych, mechanic I. Romanov.
TEAM CREWS “KAMAZ – MASTER” ON A RALLY “AFRICA ECO RACE – 2017”
Pilot A. Karginov, co-pilot A. Mokeev, mechanic D. Nikitin.
Pilot S. Kupriyanov, co-pilot A. Kupriyanov, mechanic A. Tanin.
