On December 17, a press conference of KAMAZ-master Team dedicated to participation in rally “Dakar-2019” was held at INA Russia Today Agency in Moscow. It was attended by the team leader Vladimir Chagin, team pilots Eduard Nikolaev and Andrey Karginov, and Deputy Head of Department and Vice President of VTB Bank Alexander Erofeev.
The eleventh South American and forty-first rally in general, the rally-marathon will take place on the territory of one country - Peru. The organizers are positioning it as a 100-percent Peruvian race, trying to emphasize the sandy specifics of the route this year, because mainly it is laid in desert regions, and dune areas will make up about 70 percent of the route. The start of the rally-raid will take place on January 6 in the city of Lima. Then follow 10 stages with a break on the rest day on January 12 in Arequipa. The total length of the route is 5 000 kilometers, 3 000 of which are special stages. The rally-raid will finish in Lima on January 17,
In total, 334 race crews from 61 countries applied for Dakar-2019: 167 bikes / quads, 126 cars / buggies, and 41 trucks.
Four “combat” crews of KAMAZ-master applied for the race:
№ 500 Pilot Eduard Nikolaev; co-pilot Evgeny Yakovlev; mechanic Vladimir Rybakov.
№ 502 Pilot Airat Mardeev; co-pilot Dmitry Svistunov; mechanic Ahmet Galyautdinov.
№ 514 Pilot Dmitry Sotnikov; co-pilot r Dmitry Nikitin; mechanic Ilnur Mustafin.
№ 518 Pilot Andrey Karginov; co-pilot Andrey Mokeev; mechanic Igor Leonov.
Opening the press conference, the head of KAMAZ-master Vladimir Chagin dwelled on the fact that the outgoing year was an anniversary one for the team. A wide range of interesting facts was told. For example, over a 30-year history, KAMAZ-master Team 88 times took first positions in various rally raids (of which it won in 15 rally-marathons “Dakar”, 7 editions of Silk Way Rally, 4 races of Africa Eco Race, it won 3 World Cups in Cross-Country Rallies). Generally, since 1988, the team has travelled about 470,000 kilometers in races. For such a distance, you can go around the Earth almost 12 times. At various times, in various competitions KAMAZ race trucks were driven by 28 pilots, 6 of them are active pilots. In total, 54 race trucks were built in the workshop of KAMAZ-master Team, 17 generations (models) of race trucks were created.
Vladimir Chagin assured that KAMAZ-master is not complacent. The team and, in particular, its design-and-engineering department worked hard during the jubilee year. Immediately on return from Dakar-2018, a large program of changes and modifications of race trucks was launched. All new technical solutions were tested during tests and participation in Russian competitions and in Silk Way Rally-2018, and only on the basis of positive results they were recommended for use on vehicles for Dakar-2019.
KAMAZ-master Team will apply 4 completely new sport trucks for the race. Due to changes in Dakar regulations limiting the maximum amount of engines in the truck category for 13 liters since 2019, the team actually had to redesign the new truck, which became the carrier of the state-of-the-art developments, modern race technologies and 30-year experience of performance in off-road rallies. In the new truck, which saw the light in May 2018 and received index KAMAZ-43509, is installed in-line six-cylinder engine. Generally, it determined significant changes of the truck design. Externally, it differs from the previous generation of race trucks in its modern aggressive design, chopped and wedgelike forms. In addition, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of KAMAZ-master, the new team’s truck was presented in a new livery, designed to emphasize the technological effectiveness of the new sports line and mark the development of modern technologies in the trend.
During the year the team conducted an active competitive program. And immediately after loading race trucks onto the ferry of the Dakar organizers, KAMAZ-master held training session in Morocco.
In January, KAMAZ members will defend the title of Dakar champions in a difficult struggle with the main contestants of the truck classification: IVECO, TATRA, RENAULT, MAZ, LIAZ. The team of Gerard De Rooy returns to the race at full strength - first of all Gerard De Rooy himself claims for the gold of “Dakar”, as well as the Argentinian Federico Villagra, who has proven himself in previous years. Also, crews of the Renault team led by Martin Van Den Brink will fight for podium positions. Traditionally strong will be the composition of the Czech Tatra Instaforex Loprais Team with its leader Aleš Loprais and Tatra Buggyra Racing (the team leader is Martin Kolomy). The Belarusian team MAZ-SPORTauto also announced its ambitions for winning the race.
Quotes
Vladimir Chagin, head of KAMAZ-master Team:
“The start of the new race season will be hot. Peru is famous for its sands, great dunes and dangerous careens. Such a race is always unpredictable and therefore exciting. This is a fight between people, nerves and vehicles. Rivalry in the truck category is very high. The fight goes in minutes, in seconds. The truck must be powerful, fast, light and perfectly reliable. We have gone through a difficult process of development, search for new solutions and preparation for the upcoming race and we hope to show a result that will make our partners and fans happy. ”
Eduard Nikolaev, pilot
“We know that rivals this year will be even more active in fighting for places on the podium. The teams Iveco, Renault, Tatra and others are very strong opponents, we know that very well. It is important to “withstand the onslaught” psychologically. To be cool-headed in the sands. Understanding this, we spent a very intensive year: we prepared trucks, went to competitions and tests, prepared physically. In January we are waiting for a serious exam”.
Andrey Karginov, pilot
“Dakar-2019 will be sandy. With big dunes. We say the dunes must be overcome. Overcome exactly. One can go fast and win seconds, but the slightest mistake can lead to loss of hours. It is difficult to say in advance who will be in the lead. The rivalry is very tough, we respect all rivals. We are very glad that such a strong composition is gathering. On our part, we will do our best to make a worthy performance and take the victory home”.
Alexander Erofeev, Deputy Head of Department, Vice President of VTB
"KAMAZ-master are skillful producers of their performances. The race is not easy and the intrigue will surely be kept until the finish. But we believe in our guys and hope that once again at the finish in Lima Russia will get the gold of "Dakar"! ”
