On November 22, trucks of KAMAZ-master team took the road to the start of the rally-marathon Dakar 2021. Traditionally the departure was preceded by inspection of the trucks on the testing field in Tarlovka. In the event took part the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov. Accompanied by the General Director of KAMAZ PTC Sergey Kogogin, the General Director of PJSC TATNEFT Nail Maganov, the General Director of "Ak Bars" Holding company OJSC Ivan Egorov, the Minister of Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan Vladimir Leonov and the Mayor of Naberezhnye Chelny Nail Magdeev, the Head of the Republic took part in the departure of KAMAZ-master trucks to the Dakar Rally 2021.
The head of the team Vladimir Chagin introduced the racers and the staff of the team, those who will go to the main start of the season in Saudi Arabia, to the guests and told about work that KAMAZ-master is doing with the children's motorsport team KAMAZ-master Junior.
The President of Tatarstan was shown the trucks that will have to fight for the victory at the Dakar-2021. Having reviewed new technical solutions and modifications of the truck units and aggregates, Rustam Minnikhanov personally tested one of the racing bolides at the wheel of the team's training ground.
"Good luck! - encouraged Rustam Minnikhanov KAMAZ-master team. - Everything is ready for the competition, the truck is very worthy, a lot of modern things are implemented in it. We will cheer for you! "
Immediately after the event, the crews headed for the French port of Marseille, where vehicles of the European race contestants will be loaded onto a ferry for transportation to the Arabian Peninsula.
The 43rd Dakar will start on January 3 from the Red Sea coast from Jeddah. On January 9, contestants will spend a rest day in Hail, and finally, after a huge loop through the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, the race caravan will return to the Red Sea Coast to finish on January 15 in Jeddah.
KAMAZ-master team will apply 4 KAMAZ-43509 sports trucks for the race. The crews of the reigning Dakar champion Andrey Karginov, the winner of the Silk Way Rally-2019 Anton Shibalov, as well as crews of Airat Mardeev and Dmitry Sotnikov will represent Russia in the international competition.
CREWS OF KAMAZ-MASTER TEAM CONTESTANTS AT THE DAKAR RALLY-2021
No 500 Driver A. Karginov – co-driver A. Mokeev - mechanic I. Leonov
No 501 Driver A. Shibalov - co-driver D. Nikitin - mechanic I. Tatarinov
No 507 Driver D. Sotnikov - co-driver R. Akhmadeev - mechanic I. Akhmetzyanov
No 509 Driver A. Mardeev - co-driver D. Svistunov - mechanic A. Galyautdinov
In January, KAMAZ team will defend the title of the Dakar champions in a difficult battle against the main contestants in the truck classification: IVECO, TATRA, RENAULT, MAZ, MAN, SCANIA.
Quotes
Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan
“Today we are traditionally seeing off our KAMAZ-master team to the new Dakar. Everything is ready - the team, physical training, trucks. A very decent truck. Many subtle things have been implemented, especially the gearbox - convenient shifting, quick response. Good luck!".
Sergey Kogogin, the General Director of KAMAZ PTC
“When you get behind the wheel of such a truck, the feeling is that it is easier to drive than a car. The suspension works greatly, the truck has excellent dynamics. Thanks to the competitions in which KAMAZ-master participates, we are known all over the world, the KAMAZ brand is recognized. This is especially important for us today, because the new trucks that we have designed and brought to the market this year are intended not only for the Russian market. We have serious ambitious future tasks to promote in foreign markets, since trucks today in terms of characteristics, in many ways are even better than a number of well-known brands. We are preparing the next trucks for the competition already in K5 style, this will be done, most likely, next year."
Nail Maganov, the General Director of PJSC TATNEFT:
“A wonderful truck, I congratulate engineers who have been preparing it for the whole year. I think the team is guaranteed for success. This perfectly prepared truck will decently represent our country at the most serious competitions."
Nail Magdeev, the Mayor of Naberezhnye Chelny
“KAMAZ-master team is the pride of our country, the pride of our republic, the city of Naberezhnye Chelny. And it gives me special pleasure, as the head of the city, to say words of gratitude to our athletes - they are a bright, good, living example for the younger generation of young Chelny residents. Looking at the athletes, the guys try to be like Chagin, Nikolaev, Mardeev, Karginov. I think these victories are what we are waiting for, and will continue to accompany our team. I wish you success, endurance, victory and, most important, to return safe and sound to our native Chelny land. "
Vladimir Chagin, the Head of KAMAZ-master team
“It was a very difficult year. The pandemic has complicated the vehicle modernization and preparation program. All was very difficult with training of the crews. But we just kept on working and doing our job. Looking back at the past season, we understand that, despite the difficulties, it turned out to be challenging and intense. We are grateful to the partners of the team who, despite the difficulties, stayed with us. At the Dakar we will do our best not to upset our partners and fans! "
Andrey Karginov, driver
“Carrying out of the Dakar this year is fraught with various difficulties. Nevertheless, composition of contestants is quite impressive in all categories. And most importantly, given all the circumstances of the outgoing difficult year, really ambitious rivals will come to the start in Jeddah. No one wasted time. The sports trucks have been seriously renewed and the athletes are eager to try out the new products in order to fight for places on the podium."
