To win the Dakar, I changed the motorcycle on the truck.

01.01.2013
Elizabeth Jacinto, a small slight woman with sad eyes who has a victory on Dakar in trucks category. She is very open and communicates with pleasure.

Everybody is always busy at the bivouac, tries to do everything quickly so that there is more time for sleep, but Elizabeth easily responded to a request to answer our questions.

Are you informed that you are known in Russia?
Several times at the rally, I remember well, the Russian journalist came, he spoke very good Portuguese and each time he wrote about me in the magazines on off-road sport, maybe that's why. I do not know.

Why did you choose the rally and the truck?
I began to participate at the rally on a motorcycle. When I was 27 years old, there was my first off-road race, I really liked it, and I began to take part in the championships in Portugal within several years. And once I got the idea: "Why not to go to Dakar." So I began to participate in "Dakar" and other African races - Rally in Tunisia and Morocco. Four times I participated in Dakar on a motorcycle and never became first or second, but I was third and fourth. You know, I wanted to participate in more competitions, it was important for me to reach the podium, and I thought, "Why not to choose a truck for rally." There was no woman participated before on the truck on "Dakar". I asked my husband - what do you think, can I get the license to drive a truck. He agreed that’s maybe a good idea. And I went to a driving school to get the license to drive a truck. That's how I started my career on the truck. The first time I participated in trucks category at Dakar 2003, it was a very heavy truck, I did not reach the finish line, I had a lot of problems on the route. But, however, I decided that I have more chance to win on the truck than on motorcycle and I need to find a good truck and a good team. Then I participated at "Dakar" on Renault truck within 3 years, and then there was an opportunity to participate on MAN. For 10 years, I drive a truck and still participate only in three races a year, Africa Race, Rally in Tunisia and Morocco. It's not too much. If there are new sponsors, I would begin to participate more often.

Why did you choose "Africa trip" instead of "Dakar"?
Because I love too much Africa. When I was a "small", I watched all the pilots who participated in Dakar, I saw how it is difficult, I saw dunes, high-speed, rocky sections. It is difficult, but it is a serious challenge and I decided to go. Then the place of Dakar was changed and I once participated at Dakar in America. That was in 2009 and I did not like it. This is quite different. All competitors are on one track, there is no navigation, there is less various surfaces. I decided that I would return to Africa. I like it more; here is everything I love around me, I love Africa and the organization of the race. This race is still small, but is already well organized, there are very friendly people and the organizers try to make sure that all reached the finish line.

What is your husband attitude to your occupation?
My husband is always with me, in my team, drives an assistance truck and I can say that I participate in races because he is next to me. You know, to participate in the competition, it is necessary to have a very good team. One person can’t cope with everything; you need a team which will help you. It is very hard for woman in this situation, and if the husband is not there, then it is really very difficult, when there are only men around you. But, fortunately, he is in my team, we work together all year, he is very happy, because we show good results.

What do you think about the participation of "KAMAZ-Master" team in Africa Race?
I was very happy when I learned that KAMAZ will participate in the rally. It's true. KAMAZ team is a serious team and participates to win. KAMAZ is an excellent truck. I have a conviction that the KAMAZ team operates as one team from the beginning. I know that I can be not on the best position in the classification; I think that KAMAZ will be get ahead of me, but if this happens, it means that they are better. This is quite normal. Welcome! I hope that other trucks also will be able to reach the finish line. Then it will be possible to make changes in trucks category at this race. I can pass very quickly the stages in Morocco, but for Mauritania my truck is a little heavy. I would say that I very glad that there are young pilots in the team who just started their careers, but they drive already very well. This is a wonderful rally; there is something that could teach everyone, even experienced pilots.

Svetlana Klimova. Oksana Zakharova from Africa