On Tuesday, December 22, there was a meeting of the Minister Vitaly Mutko with Russian participants of rally-marathons Dakar 2016 and Africa Eco Race 2016 – KAMAZ-master Team, G-Energy Team, Airon Racing Team, Troyka Team, VEB Racing Team и RE Autoсlub - in the Ministry for Sports of Russia.
Russian Federation Deputy Ministers for Sport Pavel Kolobkov and Yuri Nagornykh also took part in the event.
Vladimir Chagin, the leader of “KAMAZ-master”, Honored coach of Russia, seven-time winner of Dakar Rally in the truck category, made a speech on behalf of the sportsmen. “It is a great privilege for us to represent our country in international competitions, which will open the next season: Africa Eco Race starts on 27 December in Monaco and Dakar 206 starts on 2 January, - he told. – We understand and feel how big the responsibility is. We would like our performance to give momentum to all Russian sportsmen.”
The “KAMAZ-master” leader thanked the head of the Ministry for Sports of Russia for the opportunity to meet with all racers and mentioned that such an event took place the first time. “Your parting words will give us confidence and tranquility on the forthcoming starts,” – remarked V. Chagin.
“Last few years our New Year begins with Dakar. We follow the race very attentively, - said V. Mutko. – It is an important event for us. On the basis of your teams’ success, we would like to review once again measures for development of racing and technical kinds of sport in our country.”
The minister also told about the preparation for the international Silk Way Rally 2016: “Next year we set up the “Silk Way Rally” project with start on Red Square in Moscow and finish in China. The Ministry for Sports of China also joined the process. Not easy preparatory phase is in front of us – there is plenty of work. Level of organization, safety and security arrangements, hospitality of bivouacs, warm welcome of guests by regions – all that must be done on a high level”
Apart from that, V. Mutko had a conversation with the sportsmen, listened to their wishes and requests.
At the end of the meeting, the head of the Ministry congratulated the racers with the New Year and wished them good luck in the forthcoming competitions.
The 8th edition of African rally “Africa Eco Race 2016” starts on 27 December 2015 in Monaco and finishes on 10 January 2016 on Lake Retba in Senegal. The length of the distance is more than 6000 km, including 3,8 thousand kilometers of special stages.
The Russian Federation will be represented by:
In the truck category:
№ 400 pilot Anton Shibalov/ co-pilot Robert Amatych/ mechanic Almaz Khisamiev, KAMAZ-master;
№ 403 pilot Sergey Kuprianov/ co-pilot Alexander Kuprianov / mechanic Anatoly Tanin, KAMAZ-master.
In the car category:
№ 205 pilot Anton Grigorov/ co-pilot Roman Elagin, T1, VEB Racing Team,
№229 pilot Alexander Terentyev/ co-pilot Alexei Berkut, Т2, RE Autoсlub.
In the motorbike category:
# 113 Anastasiya Nifontova, VEB Racing Team;
# 115 Dmitry Agoshkov, Troyka Team.
Dakar Rally starts on 2 January 2016 in Buenos-Aires (Argentina) and finishes on 16 January 2016 in Rosario (Argentina). The route of 9000 km long, including 5000 km of special stages, will take place on the territories of Argentina and Bolivia.
In the rally Russia will be represented by:
In the truck category:
№ 500 pilot Airat Mardeev/ co-pilot Aydar Belyaev/ mechanic Dmitry Svistuniv, KAMAZ-master;
№ 502 pilot Eduard Nikolaev/ co-pilot Evgeny Yakovlev/mechanic Vladimir Rybakov, KAMAZ-master;
№ 504 pilot Andrey Karginov/ co-pilot Andrey Mokeev/ mechanic Igor Leonov, KAMAZ-master;
№ 508 pilot Dmitry Sotnikov/ co-pilot Igor Devyatkin/ mechanic Ruslan Akhmadeev, KAMAZ-master.
In the car category:
№ 307 pilot Vladimir Vasilyev/ co-pilot Konstantin Zhiltsov, G-Energy Team.
In the quad category:
№ 264 Sergei Karyakin, iron Racing Team.
Media service of the Ministry for Sports of Russia, media service of “KAMAZ-master” team.
Photo by Denis Clero
