On 6 July in Irkutsk started international Silk Way Rally-2019. On the race KAMAZ-master Team will be represented by the crews of Andrey Karginov, Anton Shibalov, Airat Mardeev and Sergei Kuprianov.
Traditional activities
The Russian team came to Irkutsk on Wednesday, 3 July, and stayed in the service-park on the bank of the Angara River, with a marvelous view to the old Russian city.
Silk Way Rally organizers allowed the sport delegation of KAMAZ-master Team passing the administrative checks first. On 5 July straight at 8 in the morning the team members stepped over the entrance of the linguist faculty building of Irkutsk State University. Receiving necessary equipment for the race, road books, passing checks of race licenses, documents for vehicles, driving licenses and photo shooting – were the first actions in order to get the access for participation in the rally.
The same day on the bank of the river, where there is a monument for the Irkutsk city founders, technical inspection started to check race vehicles, that will have to overcome 5000 km of exciting adventure under the “Silk Way Rally” name. By the way, checks of the safety equipment, which is extremely important in such competitions as motorsport, go in accordance with FIA regulations.
Having successfully passed the administrative and technical checks and receiving start numbers for the race, sport KAMAZ trucks went to the test section, where the team could make final adjustments of the vehicles.
The checks were quite successful, because the majority of contestants go to the Silk Way Rally more than the first time, they know technical regulations, rules of the vehicle preparation and passing the scruteneering”, - told the technical director of KAMAZ-master Team Vladimir Guba.
The start ceremony
Due to the huge flood in Irkutsk region, taking lives of more than 20 people, the rally directorate took the decision to carry out a symbolic race start, without ceremonial events. Gathered on the square of Graph Speransky in the center of Irkutsk, a large audience warmly greeted all crews of KAMAZ-master Team.
Winner of the Silk Way Rally-2018 Andrey Karginov, driver of KAMAZ-master Team, No300: “We have been looking forward to this event and start of the race. A lot of emotions, we are of this serious competition. The fight won’t be simple, we saw our rivals, and certainly, we are waiting for the start of the special stage to prove that KAMAZ-master has excellent trucks, crews and the team. We will work together and try to bring a good result”.
A two-time winner of Silk Way Rally-2012, 2016 Airat Mardeev, driver of KAMAZ-master Team, crew No 302: “We waited long for the start. We feel uneasy before the start, but perhaps my new mechanic Sergei Krenev worries much more. It is his first competition, it is all new for him, but we are 100% ready”.
Drivers of KAMAZ-master Team Anton Shibalov, No303: “The mood for the race start is only fighting! An interesting route is ahead, of only the weather doesn’t make corrections to it. We hope for a good result, for the victory. This year our crew has a new truck, we go with such a cab composition for the first time with a new engine and a gear box. We haven’t had an experience of taking part in a race on this truck, but from the first day we will start to give a good pace and get used to the truck”.
Ten tough and exhausting days are ahead of KAMAZ-master Team and other contestants of the race, during which crews will overcome more than 5000 kilometers, 2700 of which will be special sections. Already on Sunday will be the first stage Irkutsk-Baikalsk, the length of the sport section will be 51 km.
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