Supervisor “KAMAZ-master “, five-time winner of the Dakar marathon rally Eduard Nikolaev told that the team will be ready to return to the Dakar as soon as possible if they are allowed to participate.
On Friday, a test drive of KAMAZ models will take place at the stadium of the Zenit football club, Gazprom Arena. In addition to three new trucks, a sports car from the K5 family, KAMAZ-435091, led by driver Dmitry Sotnikov, is taking part.
— Is KAMAZ-master trying to return to the Dakar Rally and, if so, what is the organizers’ position towards the Russian team?
“Like all athletes, of course, we are experiencing this situation. For us, Dakar is like the Olympic Games. The team has been participating for many years and is a 19-time winner of the rally. Additionally, she has won the Silk Way rally 11 times. Of course, we always follow the Dakar. We are asking questions, working on our return, but for now we see that the situation is not improving. The organizers are also worried about this. After all, they are very interested in us. And here the best team, which the rivals really wanted to catch up and overtake, does not participate. It was very cool for them.
No, by the way, not only us, but also the Belarusians from MAZ, who also recovered very well. And the running got a little boring. However, we try to do everything in our power. At the same time, we are absolutely in shape and the training process does not stop. If tomorrow we are told “it is possible”, from this point of view we will be ready to come back as if nothing had been missed. Even if it is already the third year that we are not present in Dakar. At the same time, we try to meet our opponents on neutral territory.
— If Dakar is like the Olympic Games for you, what do you compare the Silk Road to?
– They are very close. You know, all Europeans cry when they see the struggle we are waging on the Silk Road between the master KAMAZ, MAZ and the Ural team. This is clear from our correspondence with them. And let’s not forget the GAZ team either. Our plot is crazy. 12 trucks in the Russian championship is a very good number. At the Dakar last time, it was 42-43. The Europeans say: we want to come to you, otherwise we no longer have such intrigues here. And it’s great.
I will say that the Silk Road is not easier in its routes than the Dakar. Of course, I just want to compete with more participants and in more starts,” Nikolaev told .
KAMAZ-master missed the Dakar 2023 and 2024 due to the inability to sign the questionnaire of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), condemning the Russian special operation in Ukraine. Signing this document is mandatory for Russian runners to be allowed to participate in the marathon rally.
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Source : MatchTV
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