5 January, Lima
For the title of Dakar champions apart from KAMAZ-master this year will pretend respected leaders of the truck category IVECO, TATRA, RENAULT, SCANIA, LIAZ, MAZ and etc. All in all contestants from 54 countries will be on the start of Dakar, including 42 race trucks. Apart from KAMAZ not less than 10 top-crews pretend for Dakar podium in the truck category. A few words about the “big guns” of Dakar-2018. Who are they, the main rivals of KAMAZ-master Team in the truck category?
In the absence of the constant rival of KAMAZ crews of recent years Gerard De Rooy (the Dutchman decided to miss Dakar and take part in Africa Eco Race, going at the same time) a talented racer Federico Villagra will pretend for the top trophies from IVECO team, last year in Dakar he was fourth among trucks (in 2016 – third). In IVECO team one more experienced fighter appeared: Astana Motorsports team from Kazakhstan made a contract with the Dutchmen, according to which one truck will be driven by Artur Ardavichus. By the way, the experienced strategist and talented pilot Artur was fourth in the standings of summer Silk Way Rally-2017. Taking into consideration, that Villagra and Ardavichus will be “insured” by reliable Ton Van Genugten, there can be no doubt that IVECO will strengthen their efforts to win in the race. Moreover the finish will be held in Cordoba – native city of Villagra. And native houses and walls help, all the more on the very routes the legend of Argentinian motorsport nicknamed “Coyote” won seven times the national championship in the classical rally.
The main Dutch pretending for the Dakar victory in the absence of De Rooy, who chose Africa, is Martin Van Den Brink on the race bonnet truck RENAULT. Janus Van Kasteren will be a second pilot in the team of Martin Van Den Brink instead of Pascal De Baar. Other news from RENAULT MAMMOET RALLYSPORT: on the bonnet truck only one turbine will be left instead of two for the reason of engine reliability. Also the RENAULT truck prepared by stable of MKR Mario Cress will be driven by the Dutchman Gert Huzink (RIWALD DAKAR TEAM).
TATRA INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM managed to agree with the race officials upon participation of Ales Loprais on his usual bonnet truck of his own design «Queen 69» (this year the name got a prefix Reborn), created on the basis of TATRA JAMAL. It seems that all contradictions with technical regulations ASO were solved and the famous racer (winner of Silk Way Rally-2011, a prize-holder of Dakar-2007, “Central Europe Rally, Silk Way Rally-2009, holder of the fourth place in Dakar-2015, and, by the way, a nephew of Carol Loprais, six-time winner of Dakar) will make every effort to rehabilitate for his famous surname and bad lucks of recent years, when he had to take part in Dakar on trucks of IVECO, MAN and TATRA BUGGYRA teams.
One more Czech team TATRA BUGGYRA RACING will participate on three trucks. “Silk Way Rally” was a good test for us. After assessment of data, we did some changes and after last test I can say that everything is definitely done for the best”, - commented the team leader Martin Kolomy last innovations before Dakar, made by professionals from the Buggyra truck circuit racing team. “I know that the battle is going to be tough, but we have ascertained that we can compete with the best pilots. If everything works as it should, I don’t consider the aim to be unreal”, - added the winner of several last-year Dakar stages.
Three crews of MAZ-SPORTauto Team take part in Dakar – Siarhei Viazovich, Aleksandr Vasilevsky and Alexey Vishnevsky. As it was announced on pre-Dakar press-conference in Minsk, the strategy of the team will be more attacking: all three crews will drive for a result. If earlier the third crew “insured” the other contestants, so now it will drive at full strength. All racers will try to take high positions but will help to one another on the route if necessary.
In opinion of KAMAZ-master team leader Vladimir Chagin, there are two weeks of tough sport fight ahead. KAMAZ members will have to work hard in order to keep the title of Dakar champions.
Press-service of KAMAZ-master Team
