The England rugby team had an unusual training session. The team took part in tug war against an 8-ton truck of the KAMAZ-master team, built to participate in the most exhausting race marathon on the planet – the Dakar Rally.
The training was held within preparation of the England national team to the match with the world’s reigning rugby champions – national team of the South Africa.
The task of this small work-out session was to raise ability of every sportsman to resist psychological stress and extreme physical endurance, as well as increase teamwork and ability to act together in non-standard situations. To the very start of the competition the team members didn’t understand till the end what task awaited them – the truck was hidden from them for an effect of unexpectedness.
The training was held on the shore of the Jersey island in the English Channel. In the competition was used experimental bonnet KAMAZ truck, which is unique for now. Bonnet trucks are the main tendency of rally raids of recent years and all main KAMAZ rivals use the very design of the truck. An experimental bonnet truck was built in KAMAZ in order to estimate it in comparison with the classic configuration.
According to KAMAZ-master racer Airat Mardeev, who was at the wheel of the truck on the training with the national team, the experiment was planned for the last year already, but due to the pandemics, it had to be shifted for 2021. “This year despite all limitations we still could get the truck to England and flew ourselves – which was not very easy as well, visas we received at the very last moment”, - shared Airat.
Russian driver noted that one of the main difficulty was to carry out the training in a safe way: “I understood that the rugby guys were giving 110% and one careless movement from my side could lead to a trauma”.
“I was surprised by the team unity, - added Mardeev. – I didn’t expect that they would pull the truck so easily, notwithstanding the sand and a water hole, through which they pulled the truck. Before the finish they gave me the command to try to stop them a bit. I engaged reverse gear, started to release the pedal to move backwards. And then there was a culmination – the whole team stood together and held the truck”.
Once again “KAMAZ-master” comes to Great Britain to demonstrate its vehicles. Last year the team took part in the Goodwood Speed Festival and carried out rides of the Dakar truck along London streets.
https://www.redbull.com/ru-ru/kamaz-master-strees-test
