Russian racing driver Nikita Mazepin has not yet decided whether or not to participate in the Dakar Rally marathon.
On Saturday, the ex-Haas Mazepin Formula 1 team driver became the winner of the Silk Way Rally in the off-road vehicle category. “Silk Way” took place from July 6 to July 16, the race started in Astrakhan and ended in Moscow.
– Will there be a Dakar in my career? Let’s see. Before the Dakar, there is a lot of preparation work for the sands, because there is a lot more. Emotionally, I now understand better what is expected of me. Dakar will begin this year on December 31 and end on January 15. It’s 15 days of combat behind the wheel. I finished 10 and I feel tired, so we have to weigh everything and get ready,” Mazepin said on Tous pour le match!. on MatchTV.
He also recounted what turned out to be the most difficult for him on the Silk Road.
— The past 10 days have been an interesting adventure. I drove around, you might say, all of Russia and visited places that I would hardly have visited (in other circumstances). More importantly, every day was different. For the first three days, we struggled with completely new issues that I hadn’t encountered before. The aftertaste is very positive.
I came to the rally to have fun, for me it’s more a hobby than a job, I have no contract, no obligations towards the team owner, the sponsors. On the other hand, if I bring new spectators, I will be very happy, because it is a race with a unique format, which takes place in a unique territory and which deserves a lot of attention.
On the first day, the car overheated a lot. On the second day, it turned out that the carbon car did not pass the GPS signal, the co-pilot had to drive a great distance, in fact, blindly, because he could not go the distance. On the third day we physically pushed the car to the finish line. Although it is not very heavy, it was not pleasant.
Which step was the most difficult? On the fifth day, it is difficult to realize that it is only half. We passed one of the most difficult sections. Physical fatigue was great, in the car the temperature reached 65 degrees, we were in thermal underwear that did not burn. I then made a comment that you seemed to be sitting in the bath for 5-6 hours.
Comparison with Formula 1? It is easier to find the differences because there are more of them. The common thing is that there are 4 wheels and a steering wheel. From the first training sessions with Sergey Karyakin, I remember that there were many things that were not similar, not only in driving, but also in the psychological approach to competition. Because you have to step over, overcome the failures that inevitably happen, because you are going for 4500 km, explained the 23-year-old runner.
The next Dakar Rally Marathon will take place from December 31, 2022 to January 15, 2023 in Saudi Arabia.
Source : MatchTV
