Silk Road truck results. Latest publications
Rally "Silk Way 2017" official results - SUVs
Rally "Silk Way 2017" official truck results
Silk Way Rally Marathon Program
Suprotek Racing presents the only female buggy crew in the history of the Silk Way Rally Marathon Maria Oparina, Taisiya Shtaneva A new adventure along the historic Silk Road route will take the rally caravan through unknown places, where sport, emotion, culture and discovery mix stage after stage.
For the start of the Silk Way Rally 2017, the organizers developed a new route project, which incorporated the best developments of the sixth edition, as well as several new products and surprises. The marathon will continue in the proven marathon format across Russia, Kazakhstan and China. The caravan of participants will go on a fascinating and exciting journey, the starting point of which will once again be Red Square in the very heart of Moscow. And after two weeks of intense marathon, the participants finish in the city of Xi'an - the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization, the starting point of the Great Silk Road.
Silk Way Rally 2017 program
RUSSIA
After a grand start on Red Square, participants will set off along picturesque winding roads and race through endless Russian fields, where sometimes only the best navigators in the world will be able to see the right direction behind the tall grass. The seventh edition of the race will include the newest and yet unknown tracks of the European part of Russia, which will appeal to both fans of classic rallying and fans of high-speed special stages in open spaces.
Stage 1. The path to Nizhny Novgorod
The first special stage of the race is a 61-kilometer stretch between Moscow and Cheboksary. On the first day, the technical track will present a real challenge to the crews: the stage will be demanding on the precise settings of the car, as well as on the work of the navigators, who will have to find the right directions.
Stage 2. Great routes of Kazan
At the second stage, the racers will demonstrate outstanding aerobatics skills - between Cheboksary and Ufa they will have to overcome 157 kilometers of narrow and very technical tracks. High-speed segments will be interspersed with slower sections, but first of all, the crews will have to focus on the safety of the car - cutting corners is very dangerous here, and in many places there are holes and bumps hidden in the grass.
Stage 3. Tobol River
The final special stage on Russian territory will be completed by the athletes during the third stage of the rally, which consists of high-speed tracks with frequent changes of direction. Fast and technical sections among bushes and vegetation will keep the pilots busy, while the navigators will have to concentrate on working with the “road book” - it can be difficult to see the right road in the tall grass.
KAZAKHSTAN
Kazakhstan, a connecting bridge between Europe and Asia, stretching from the Volga Delta to the Tien Shan Mountains, will be part of the Silk Way Rally route for the third time. Stunning landscapes of lakes and canyons, along with mountain plateaus and depressions, have become the hallmark of these tracks, which will once again challenge the riders, their piloting skills and ability to adapt to changing road surfaces. This will be a real test of endurance in the face of incipient altitude changes and increasing heat.
Kostanay - Astana / July 11
Stage length: 908.80 km
Special section length: 373.22 km
Stage 4. On the way to Akmola
The first stage of the distance with two special stages separated by a neutralization zone. The first part contains a whole scattering of high-speed dirt tracks, while the second section is a special section across the endless steppes of Kazakhstan, which will lead participants to a bivouac in the capital of the country, Astana.
Stage 5. Towards Semipalatinsk
The fifth stage of the race will be a real test for navigators - almost 400 kilometers of special stage across the vast steppes among the stunning landscapes of Kazakhstan, where only the most attentive and careful will be able to find the right direction and maintain their position at the top of the standings.
Stage 6. Along Turksib
The special stage of the sixth stage will begin with frequent changes of direction, after which the crews will face a series of fast and treacherous sections - numerous traps await the participants here, and in order to avoid them, the navigators must carefully follow the “road book”.
Stage 7. In search of black gold
The 106-kilometer special stage of the seventh stage will bring true pleasure to the racers. The routes take place against the backdrop of amazing landscapes of hilly terrain, covered with a wide variety of vegetation, and the finishing section finishes near the border with China.
CHINA
The Silk Road Rally caravan will travel through the Tien Shan ridges to China, where a hot sports battle in the Gobi Desert will once again become the culmination of the marathon. In China, athletes will discover the most hidden places of ancient civilization and previously unexplored places. Gigantic dunes and massive sand masses in extreme temperatures, constant changes of direction and traps awaiting crews ensure that the journey to Xi'an will be an unforgettable adventure and a ruthless test of strength and spirit.
Stage 8. In the footsteps of the Uighurs of Xinjiang
The routes of the eighth stage will spread out in difficult terrain, surrounded by mountains on the south and numerous drilling holes on the north. At first, riders will face high-speed sections, which will become more difficult and treacherous with each kilometer. The main work will be piloting, but the focused work of the navigator will be required to reach the finish line.
Stage 9. Towards Yizhou
The first large dunes on the route are even longer than in 2016. Numerous changes of direction against the backdrop of impressive scenery will keep navigators from getting bored, and numerous waypoints will make navigation a little easier for crews. Towards the finish the character of the special stage will become faster and faster.
Stage 10. Mogao Shrines
The fast special stage between dry river beds in the first kilometers will become more and more difficult and technical. Many changes in direction will present a real challenge to the navigators, but by the end of the high-speed segment the track will be clearly visible.
Dunhuang - Jiayuguan / July 19
Stage length: 783.84 km
Special section length: 488.65 km
Stage 11. Parking in the desert
During the eleventh stage, the crews will have to overcome two special stages for the second time. In the first section, pilots must navigate soft dunes, followed by high-speed tracks along the Qilianshan Mountains and challenging navigation. The second segment will take participants between canyons along wide sandy tracks right to the finish of the stage.
Jiayuguan - Alashan-yuqi / July 20
Stage length: 483.79 km
Special section length: 254.75 km
Stage 12. Long journey
Due to the numerous giant dunes, the twelfth stage of the race will be one of the most difficult on the route. High-speed sections and different types of surfaces will present a difficult challenge for pilots, but navigation will again play a key role.
Alashan-yuqi - Zhongwei / July 21
Stage length: 690.31 km
Special section length: 318.66 km
Stage 13. Great Cathedrals of the Dunes
The final double special stage of the race. An incredible collection of the most beautiful dunes of the Gobi Desert, where not only athletes, but also photographers and videographers will enjoy the competition, will make up the first qualifying section. The second part will include many navigation challenges and some technical sections with dunes.
Stage 14. Capital of the Thirteen Dynasties
The two-week marathon will end with a decisive special stage of 100 kilometers. Sandy tracks and a series of small dunes promise a tense battle in which it is impossible to predict the winner until the last meters of the distance. The finish in the capital of the thirteen dynasties of Chinese emperors, the starting point of the Great Silk Road, will be a worthy reward for everyone who was able to overcome over 9,500 kilometers of the marathon.
“The rivals were not depressed, but...” How KAMAZ won despite the regulations
Dominators of the “Silk Road” Dmitry Sotnikov and Anton Shibalov, as well as race director Vladimir Chagin - about victory, difficulties and the future.
After another successful performance, the KAMAZ-master drivers traditionally came to the “Championship” editorial office. Dmitry Sotnikov became the winner of the Silk Way rally marathon, and Anton Shibalov ended up second, losing to his partner only a few minutes. They answered our questions. And along with them, the head of KAMAZ-master told a lot of interesting things. Vladimir Chagin, who at the time of the race was not formally related to the team, focusing on the role of head of the Silk Road project.
“When de Roy slowed down, everything inside broke off”
- Vladimir Gennadievich, can you summarize the results of the “Silk Road” through the eyes of the organizer?
Vladimir Chagin: The race took place, but the realization that it was over had not yet come. Everyone has these two-week battles in their heads. Everyone dreams about the race. This will be a long time coming. I am very glad that the entire team of organizers worked well together. The rains created difficulties for us, but we were preparing for it. Yes, this created inconvenience for everyone, including the participants. But in such conditions your driving level increases. Mechanics have also learned how to select settings better. Tire manufacturers have drawn conclusions. Therefore everything is positive.
Now the participants have arrived, accepting congratulations and asking when and where the next Silk Road will take place. This inspires the organizers: it is clear that the race is needed not only by athletes, but also by spectators.
Gerard de Roy and Ales Loprais quickly dropped out of the fight for victory. Your feelings at this moment are interesting. You are the head of the Silk Road project, and KAMAZ-master is formally on the sidelines for you during the race. Were you glad that your rivals came together because it was better for KAMAZ, or were you upset that there was less competition?
V.Ch.: I'll tell you sincerely. For me the whole race was like one team. I worried about all the participants as if they were family. I remember myself very well in such states. Gerard de Roy was very upset, of course. One day, when he was in a leading position, we stopped at the passage control point. De Roy flies out from behind the hill, slows down, points to the hood with his hands, and it becomes clear: that’s it. The car could no longer continue moving off-road, he did not have time to make a new cabin, there was a heavy load on the metal. And the cabin amplifiers simply burst. At this moment his chances were reduced to zero.
Everything inside me broke. It was a great pity. Competition decreased after that, of course. But he fought, I told him that he should be in front. He agreed. I wanted to show myself well at the special stages. Nevertheless, he performed, fought, and showed his athletic character with varying degrees of success.
Loeb's fatal risk and the successful renewal of KAMAZ. The Silk Road from the inside
KAMAZ-master and Peugeot won the largest rally marathon in Eurasia. We talk about the main moments of the Silk Road 2017.
- Dmitry and Anton, you were the main creators of intrigue in the cargo competition. How did the fight go?
Dmitry Sotnikov: Very good for the whole team good result, we took three first places. There was a very serious line-up of participants; a tense fight was expected. De Roy arrived, his strong teammates, Loprais, Renault... We didn’t know how it would end, we made very cautious forecasts. However, only KAMAZ managed to reach the finish line without any problems. We took our credit from reliability: I won’t say that we were always faster, but we didn’t have any problems - unlike others. This was the main advantage on the track. Especially for me: after all new car. The result of a crew that gets a new truck always remains unpredictable: you don’t know what will come out during the race. So we were afraid. We thought that maybe we could compete for the podium.
It was necessary to do a good job at home, to eliminate all childhood illnesses. Somewhere we were lucky: we never changed the wheels at the special stage, and there were various minor breakdowns before the start or after the finish. Everything worked out well for us: we had virtually no technical downtime, only minor glitches. I think this is a phenomenal result: the new car drove like that! And the speed showed decent. There are a number of areas where it still needs to be improved, but the car has already shown itself well.
I think that our rivals, having seen the speed and reliability of the new car at the very first race, were not so much depressed, but... It was also at their suggestion that the engine regulations changed. It was inconvenient for us, but we showed that even with the restructuring of the regulations against us, KAMAZ still continues to drive. We have created a good psychological background before the Dakar: the competitors understand that switching to 13 liters will not make it any easier for anyone.
Anton Shibalov: The race showed that in rally raids, the winner is the one who does not stand on special stages - or costs less than the rest. From the very beginning, the rivals made a clear statement about themselves and developed a high pace that did not justify itself. You can complete a couple of stages at this pace, but after that, as a rule, your luck runs out. It’s 99 percent that if you push yourself as hard as you can every day, you won’t reach the finish line. The results of both MAZ and Koloma showed this. Although they could drive a little quieter, more reliably - and be at the finish line no worse than us. We initially had a tactic to drive carefully and steadily - and it paid off. The equipment was well prepared: thanks to all the mechanics for their work.
But it rained every day. Usually it started just at the moment when the car needed to be serviced. The whole day is normal - sunshine, heat - but as soon as you arrive at the bivouac, an hour later it starts to rain. It was not easy for the guys: you work outdoors, at night, at this moment you need to not overlook the damage to the car. It’s not easy to do this at night with streetlights, and when it’s also raining... Pieces of mud hung on the truck. It took three hours to wash one car! They used fire hoses to remove the dirt and then clean it up. But our mechanics did everything with a plus. Not a single car had technical problems after leaving the bivouac. Therefore, the entire podium belongs to KAMAZ. Many people say - whoever you competed with, you still got away. But we could have gotten off too!
D.S.: I don’t understand the words “yes, you won there again...”. At the beginning of the race they said on the contrary: KAMAZ takes a long time to harness, what kind of tactics do you have, why are you not the first. But then at the end - well, here we are again, first. Guys, you asked why KAMAZ is not the first? This is a constant question in the early stages of the Dakar. The start of the race is smooth: you need to calm down and be patient. When difficult sections begin - both technical and difficult to navigate - then instead of previously won minutes you can lose an hour! Of course, it’s unpleasant when you’re not in the lead at first, but we had a tactic: be patient, slow down the pace by 2-3 percent. And then everything fell into place.
- In general, the motto is “the slower you go, the further you will go.”
D.S.: Not certainly in that way. It’s hard for me to tell myself to drive more quietly to maintain the result. When you drive slower, mistakes occur: the speed is not yours. You have to go either faster or very slowly. Otherwise, inexplicable errors happen. It is better to go at your normal pace, in the range of 3-5 percent, no more.
"Silk Road". SUVs:
1. Cyril Despres (Peugeot Sport) – 41:46.25
2. Christian Lavieille (Baicmotor Racing Team) +1:04.39
3. Han Wei (Geely SMG) +1:11.29
4. Egenio Amos (Two Wheels Drive Ford) +2:12.12
5. Stefan Peterhansel (Peugeot Sport) +2:37.27.
“After 30 kilometers we couldn’t turn our arms anymore”
It happens that after studying the legend of the next stage in the evening, you understand whether it suits you as a pilot or not?
D.S.: You can't guess. There were stages that should have been remembered for their beautiful pictures, but were remembered for the fact that it was difficult to simply get to the finish line. For example, at the last stage of the Silk Road they promised: a beautiful stage, enjoy the beautiful views. What views there are!
A.Sh.: All day, we saw nothing except grass and sky!
You exchanged positions in the overall standings right there during the day, and only learned about all the details at the finish line?
D.S.: Thank God, yes. There would be a lot of pressure, an unnecessary distraction from the track. Losing concentration is an immediate mistake. When I finished the first part of the section, I realized that the day was very difficult. At the liaison they called the team, but asked not to say the result. In fact, I thought we wasted a lot of time. At the end we were leaving with our last strength. I didn’t need anything anymore, I didn’t want anything! My physiology is like this: I lose a lot of water, and this is a difficult route, it’s very hot. We ran out of cool water, which at least somehow helped.
The last 30 kilometers were so slow! They didn’t turn their hands anymore. The navigator tells me: “20 kilometers to the finish, we need to push!” I just wish I could get there. When I arrived, I almost had heatstroke and dehydration had begun. I was still driving, but as soon as I got out of the cab, I felt dizzy. I didn’t even get behind the wheel afterwards: the mechanic was already driving on the liaison. I will remember this day for a long time. Maybe we need to take even more water in the future.
- This is extra weight, but not a big deal for a truck.
D.S.: When a person cannot ride, then 10, 30 or even 50 kilograms will not give anything! And the head stops working, and everything else. Anton doesn’t have such problems.
A.Sh.: In this regard, it’s easier for me. I don’t have much water loss; throughout my entire career at KAMAZ-master I almost never even drank one of the two liter thermoses. Maybe once in a while. In this regard, what is hot for me, what is not...
- The longer the stage, the better? Long range advantage.
A.Sh.: We need a stage of two thousand kilometers! I’ll get there, but the rest won’t! ( Laughs.)
- When your last competitor Koloma fell behind, what were the instructions from the team on tactics?
A.Sh.: The tactic was to take these places to the finish line. It was possible to lose positions at any moment. Whatever the gap, if you exceed your pace and make a mistake, then on the last day you will lose the result accumulated over two weeks. This has happened in history.
D.S.: The manual indicated that the pace should not be increased. The ride had to be flawless. Everyone rides in their own rhythm - such that they drive reliably and confidently. No risks. It was not about the fact that the places were distributed - first, second, third. No - as it turns out, so it turns out. But we had to get there reliably. If somewhere it was noticed that someone was trying to “get out”, then... We were repeatedly told not to arrange any infighting. If someone breaks this rule, then, regardless of the result, they will be removed from the race and sent home on a plane.
We saw Peugeot use the opposite tactic: their famous, ambitious pilots fought with each other. Nobody wants to put up with the fact that the other is cooler and faster. In general, Loeb's accident is inexplicable: he already had more than an hour in his pocket, it was possible to beautifully bring the matter to a victorious finish. I didn't understand this.
By the way, we stopped next to Peugeot more than once - we helped them, pulled out the same Depre. We wasted time on this, and this is never compensated for. They only compensate in cases where there is a threat to life, when you are obliged to stop. And we just had mutual assistance.
- But you are fighting for first place! And here is a waste of time.
D.S.: Vladimir Gennadievich says: “I myself played those minutes back on the track.” This is the class of the team - both to help and to be the first. Although during the race it did not seem to us that such tactics were ideal (smiles). What if de Roy or Kolomy don’t break?
- How did you know that you don’t need to go to the final stage?
D.S.: The navigators were at a briefing, it was raining, we were sitting in a KAMAZ tent. They didn’t know anything, and then journalists suddenly started coming. As soon as they found out, they came running to us and started asking questions! Feel? We spent a lot of energy, and there was none left for emotions. There was relief that it was all over, that we had completed this race. We realized that tomorrow the regime will be simpler. But it was impossible to relax, the liaison the next day was still an official part of the race. So we restrained ourselves a little.
Medvedev congratulated KAMAZ-master on its victory on the Silk Road
- Rally raid is always dangerous. Were there any dangerous situations this time?
D.S.: There were situations when we flew over all sorts of ditches because the car was in full swing. One day a rival, Ton van Genugten, followed in our footsteps. We were traveling in four trucks, I was the first to jump through a huge hole. There was no longer a chance to stop, because it was very slippery, all that was left was to hold the gas. Airat Mardeev also jumped over, but the Dutchman didn’t succeed: he broke the front axle and crashed Windshield. Van Genugten, apparently, has not been in such situations, and missed the flight a little. To be honest, when I found out, I was scared if he was okay. And the ditch was decent, the whole KAMAZ could fit there. So there were plenty of dangers. But motorsport has never been safe.
- Anton, this year you didn’t have enough to win. How will you win next year?
A.Sh.: We will try to improve our tactics. This year, unlike last year, we have rehabilitated ourselves. In the past the result was much worse. There were more technical problems, and on the last day there was an incident - 30 km before the finish we lay down on our side in the sand. Apotheosis! This year we focused on reliability and stability, and this yielded results. Even though we were “technicians,” we tried to drive quickly and reliably, so as not to lag too far behind the guys, and to be as close as possible in case of problems. Dima also traveled as a “technician”, and practice shows that sometimes the result is even better than that of combat crews.
Did you carry those extra pounds until the end? After all, at some point, Eduard Nikolaev no longer claimed victory...
A.Sh.: For several days we transferred these spare parts, and then we came to a tactic where we simply loaded the guys with the most necessary things, and we carried the main cargo, but at the same time we often rode in front. There was a certain risk, but the guys were motivated to catch up so that we could bring up the rear.
"Silk Road". Trucks:
1. Dmitry Sotnikov (“KAMAZ-master”) - 43:45.38
2. Anton Shibalov (“KAMAZ-master”) +6.04
3. Airat Mardeev (“KAMAZ-master”) +23.12
4. Artur Ardavichus (Astana Motorsport De Rooy Iveco) +2:40.27
5. Sergey Vyazovich (“MAZ-SPORTauto”) +6:28.56.
“We continue to work on the hood”
The most main novelty teams on the Silk Road - 13-liter engine. How confident were you in its reliability?
D.S.: After all, in Russia we have enough off-road conditions where you can see and test the car under loads. We conducted weekly tests in Astrakhan and Volgograd regions. We tried to load the car and take a look. After that we looked at everything again, there were no problems. But before last day we set it up and tried it. Fortunately, everything worked out. It was 50/50 because you don’t know what the race will bring. Difficult conditions, long race... We understood that anything could happen, but everything turned out well.
- Anton, you had, let’s say, a traditional truck. But were there any new items?
A.Sh.: Unless the cabin suspension is in test mode. We tried other settings. The most important novelty was Dima Nikitin - the new navigator! It's good that he quickly joined the crew. I didn’t even immediately remember that this was a debut for him! It was his first time at competitions of this level and he performed well.
It is clear that the main novelty was the new engine. They also talked a lot about the automatic transmission that Airat Mardeev used. Did he share his impressions? How ready is she for the Dakar?
A.Sh.: It's hard to say because this box has its pros and cons. Having actually driven it for a season, it’s hard to fully evaluate it. The main disadvantage is unreliability. She has great acceleration, but has problems with braking. A lot depends on the layout of the engine and gearbox. Everyone has different settings and layouts. Renault did well in this regard, but it’s not a fact that others will do well.
D.S.: Everything is at the discussion stage. We are trying to understand what needs to be changed. Maybe the gear ratios are not suitable, or some other problems. All these nuances come to light during the races. Another point: we used such a box in manual mode, and de Roy used it in automatic mode; he was satisfied with this option. The difference is fundamental. So it's still unclear. There is no certainty, and until we have it, we are unlikely to use this option at Dakar 2018.
- What is the situation with the hood? What will happen to him?
V.Ch.: Let's continue working. The engine will be new - the same as Dima’s on the Silk Road. We need to rearrange the car and see how the bonnet performs in the autumn tests. Then there will be a decision on Dakar 2018.
- The gas-powered KAMAZ actively participated in the races, what is its prospect now? (Question from ddyagilev). They said that in terms of fuel consumption it was better than traditional KAMAZ vehicles.
V.Ch.: The project has not been stopped, it will continue next year. It was piloted by Sergei Kupriyanov. He himself is an employee of Gazprom, a press secretary, but he showed himself to be a talented pilot. This year, Sergei’s busy work schedule did not allow him to participate, but next year he plans to resume participation in competitions. Behind gas engine very big prospect. We saw it. The work will continue.
In fact, now, and even more so before Dakar 2019, it’s as if the team will have to put together a puzzle. New engine, automatic transmission, cabin settings, bonnet... Everything will have to be connected.
D.S.: Yes, we will discuss and check various nodes. And for the Dakar we will try to choose the best settings. If we stand still, we will lose. Even if outwardly it seems that the car has remained the same, then inside there may be some new items - a clutch, something else. It's just not visible. Every little detail affects the result. Everything needs to be experienced.
“There will be a race, let the sponsors prepare the ammunition!”
- How will the Silk Road and the World Cup be separated next year?
V.Ch.: I can’t officially announce this yet. Indeed, we began to have this discussion a long time ago, realizing that Russia would be full of football battles. We'll officially announce everything soon. There will be a “Silk Road”, let the sponsors prepare ammunition for the battle.
- Are you satisfied with the number of participants in the 2017 race, or did you want more?
V.Ch.: We understand that it was difficult for many who wished to take part in the race. There were many applications, but then the teams realized that they couldn’t handle it financially. This year is difficult for everyone. Many arrived at the start without cars, and the envy in their eyes of those who started was visible. Hopefully next year those who didn't make it will have the opportunity to take part.
- Will the route on the Silk Road be approximately the same next year? Or are some new countries waiting for us?
V.Ch.: Russia and China will definitely be there! As for everything else, worry about it for now!
- Kazakhstan is probably tense.
V.Ch.: We will try to diversify the route, make it as new as possible.
- Which country has the fastest speed?
A.Sh.: In Kazakhstan, probably. There are characteristic steppes there, we also have such in Kalmykia. There are really very high-speed straight sections, which at the same time can be fraught. Because at high speed, when a ditch or some kind of obstacle appears in front of you, we don’t pass all of them.
Vladimir Gennadievich, as an organizer, were you aware of the story when Kazakh traffic cops stopped Loeb?
V.Ch.: Seriously reduced in Kazakhstan speed mode for security. The timing of the race is tight, so participants have to drive at the speed limit on the section. Somewhere there was probably a slight excess. I think that the traffic cops did not regret that they had the opportunity to communicate with the world motorsport star. I'm sure everything was limited to autographs. This is more valuable than some kind of fine.
Based on conversations with Peugeot drivers, the impression was that Peterhansel and Despres are quite relaxed, while Loeb is more closed. What is your opinion?
D.S.: Actually it is. It was less possible to cross paths with Loeb at some joint meetings. The most sociable of them is Depre, he is easy to communicate with. I think Loeb is more famous in the world, and therefore he gets a lot of tugs, questions, and he limits his communication with the press. Perhaps some personal matters.
Traditional questions about the possible return of the Dakar to Africa. Our reader ashensith asks if KAMAZ-master can somehow put pressure on the Dakar organizers?
V.Ch.: What for? In my opinion, on the contrary, when there is the opportunity to choose which race to participate in, this is even better than one competition in one place and in one year.
So it doesn’t bother you that the race, whose historical name is “Paris-Dakar”, is not even taking place on the wrong continent?
V.Ch.: Absolutely not. The Dakar brand, no matter where on the planet the marathon is held, still remains Dakar. I also think that the Silk Road can be carried out in other regions. I think it doesn’t matter or have any connection to a specific place.
D.S.: Maybe it’s good that there are different continents, different conditions. Completely different races. There is no standard that the Dakar should only be African. Diversity is, on the contrary, good. You are ready to ride in the mountains, there is mud and high dunes... Today we have a very good variety of racing, we try different things. Somewhere to look and compare sensations, these are different emotions.
“I want fun and pleasure.” De Roy talks about why he won’t go to Dakar
Before the start of the Silk Road, the main rival of KAMAZ-master Gerard de Roy spoke about the new truck and the decision not to go to Dakar 2018.
- Did any of you three discuss with Gerard de Roy his decision to go to the Africa Race rather than the Dakar?
- I think that in September all teams will clearly formulate their decision. Here, the view of the sponsors is also important, what kind of market they need. We will receive the official decision from the same de Roy in September.
- But if he does go to Africa, will this somehow affect the distribution of KAMAZ crews?
V.Ch.: Of course, competition will be taken into account, but, again, the opinion of sponsors will be important here. How do they look at it? Everything will happen in September, it will be a joint decision.
“There are a lot of people who want to buy sports cars.”
Question from reader sashatesto: is it amazing inside? Tell your impressions to readers who don't understand. What would you compare it to?
D.S.: Some of our guys compare it to boxing. “I’m standing there and they’re kicking me.” There is no such thing anywhere.
A.Sh.: I don’t even know what to compare it to... It’s just amazing, yes!
V.Ch.: If we didn’t like it, then we wouldn’t get any unusual pleasure from it. People wouldn't participate in this. After all, you see, our discipline, our sport attracts new participants every year to test and test themselves. Those who are inside feel like real heroes and astronauts. They can experience it. Shaking, heat - shock loads. But, to test myself whether I can and will be able to be faster than others - this state throws all inconveniences into the background and third. Bumps, holes and so on. This is a sport. On the contrary, shaking is good. Everyone is shaking, everyone is driving along the same road, and whoever can bear it easier will be in front.
KAMAZ-master employs more than one hundred employees. Isn’t it possible that each of them, including the cleaning lady or the canteen worker, takes a ride in a combat KAMAZ truck as an initiation when they are hired? Not while driving, of course.
V.Ch.: In any team, such an opportunity always arouses great interest. In the same Peugeot team, the entire train drives by to see what kind of product they are working on.
A.Sh.: For the team’s birthday, we organized such races where everyone took a ride. 98 percent passed. Starting really with the cleaning lady. The goal was to give you a ride, not to scare you.
D.S.: There was a picnic, and there was a highway around it. Sloping - so that people can rest properly. It's nice to combine everything. A lot of people rode, although some were afraid. People, of course, changed after that. We have quite a lot of tests, so if there is a desire, all new employees can pass.
Some readers of “Championship” do not like Daniil Kvyat. One of these readers, ztsmi, is worried about Daniil’s employment and asks: “Will you take Kvyat into the team if there is no place left for him in Formula 1?” He once drove your truck.
V.Ch.: Let’s try to drive by car, let him come, of course. As for crewing, the team is self-sufficient. We can give it a try, of course. Today the team is complete. By the standards of rally-raids, all current racers still have time to ride and ride.
- By the way, how is the recovery process of Andrei Karginov going? Any new news?
V.Ch.: Andrey is actively working out and recovering. IN soon, at the beginning of the next season, will return to duty. We are targeting January. Our sport is not without injuries: there is shaking and pits. The main thing is to get into right hands medical personnel, quickly recover and return to duty. Andrei's injury is not terrible. The main thing is rehabilitation, recovery and return to the track.
Previously, the attending physician on the team was Sergei Bubnovsky. He is not on the team now, but do you maintain any contacts? (Question from ak43)
V.Ch.: Undoubtedly. Sergei Mikhailovich has his own structure, a kinesitherapy center. He opened many clinics both in Russia and abroad. We still communicate with him, contact him if necessary, and conduct consultations. I consider him an expert top class. He helped many of the guys from the team recover from injuries and return to duty - and not only the KAMAZ-Master team, but also many athletes in motorsport. It’s better not to get injured, but if this suddenly happens, then Sergei Mikhailovich and his clinic will certainly be useful in this.
Our reader Andrey Akimov writes: “Hello, king of Dakar.” Is the team working on import substitution and if so, for what period is it intended?”
V.Ch.: All work on the design and manufacture of machines begins with import substitution. In the history of the team, priority has always been given to Russian suppliers of components. If there are no products with the necessary parameters in Russia, then the eye turns to some global brands. But priority in the manufacture of the Russian KAMAZ sports truck has always been, is and will be given to Russian components. Therefore, we are open to suggestions for the use of components from our production. Let us even rejoice at what we can do. This could be successful. We will test it and check it with great pleasure.
Another question from reader ak43. Does anyone in Russia buy racing KAMAZ vehicles, are they used outside of rally raids? In particular, is the Ministry of Defense buying it for its own purposes?
V.Ch.: Of course, in its pure form racing car The Ministry of Defense is not suitable. It must have some other driving parameters. But design solutions that have shown themselves to be successful are subsequently used in our production cars. This is one of the important components of the plant’s need to have its own sports team. This is finding new solutions, checking and testing them in competition conditions, which are then successfully used in the line all-wheel drive vehicles KAMAZ plant. We are talking about suspension, tire inflation, cooling system, transmission - a lot of things. This is a very good and useful practice and even the beginning of some fundamentally new developments.
What is the fate of the combat KAMAZ trucks that drive through the Dakar? Not all of them remain on the team; some are sold?
V.Ch.: Those wishing to buy sports cars so many. Not only KAMAZ trucks, there are many who want to participate. Many collectors want to buy a KAMAZ racing car somewhere. According to the principle “I won’t drive it, but I will wipe it down every morning.”
When a car is already out of service and there is no point in keeping it in the team, then yes, such cars are sold. The price depends on the condition and configuration. Trucks and SUVs of the leading teams in our discipline cost from 300 thousand to 1 million euros. These are top cars - those that the viewer sees on the podium. You need to prepare approximately the same amount of money to purchase these cars for your collection.
- How many years after the victory of the next KAMAZ at the Dakar can you buy a winning truck?
V.Ch.: Everyone drives the car for two seasons. Then it becomes physically obsolete. The metal needs reconstruction. As is customary everywhere in sports, a new car is being manufactured. And this one goes into the hands of collectors.
A.Sh.: Two years old, not damaged, not painted!
- Is there a markup depending on what place the car ultimately takes?
V.Ch.: Undoubtedly. It's like the boots of a football player or the stick of a hockey player who scored a winning goal are valued much more than the equipment of another player. It's the same in motorsport.
Were there any crazy offers? So that immediately after the victory on the same “Silk Road” someone would point their finger at the car and say: “I want this one, I’m ready to give 10 million right now.”
V.Ch.: Sometimes they offer. But to replace this machine, another one needs to be made, and this takes at least 9 months. Therefore, there is physically no such opportunity for teams to part with their cars.
- Were there no attempts to steal?
V.Ch.: Hijacking? No, you can’t steal a KAMAZ.
A.Sh.: But signs and numbers for souvenirs are permanent.
In Formula 1, Felipe Massa, when he retired from racing, received a car in which he competed as a gift. Some drivers write directly in the contract: “I will compete for your team for three seasons, and I will keep one car for myself.” Would the racers like to get some kind of KAMAZ as a souvenir?
A.Sh.: Of course, everyone would like to. But it’s probably too early to think about it!
V.Ch.: It's like a sports facility for a sports competition. Here is such an elementary point - where to park it in the city? Will you drive it to the market to buy tomatoes and where will you leave it? They won’t give you access, everyone will stop, ask for autographs, and be interested. Therefore, in ordinary life, in everyday life, it is better to drive modestly, in an ordinary car.
If you type “KAMAZ on the highway” on the Internet, a video will appear of our KAMAZ in war paint driving down the highway at a speed of 160 km/h. Who was that?
D.S.: Not we. Honestly, not us.
A.Sh.: We have seen such a video, and more than one. There are client cars that were bought out - it’s a pity that they remained in our colors. But the coloring is not difficult to repeat, in principle. There are craftsmen who made similar cars, not even our production - a replica. From afar it reminds sports truck. The team has established that it is strictly forbidden to drive like this on public roads. And each of us working in a team will not allow this to happen, because it is both dangerous and jeopardizes the reputation of the team. I will say for myself and for my fellow athletes: we have enough speed during competitions. I don’t allow myself to drive like that in my personal car, much less in a KAMAZ.
D.S.: Still, it’s not a great skill to accelerate a car along a straight line. Let's go to some track and compete. I call on these riders who race on straight sections and then can’t stop. Let's get together somewhere, let's race, and get a lot of adrenaline. But not among normal people. Don't need this.
A.Sh.: By the way, another fact refutes the possibility that one of the team members rode this way. Our cars don’t go 160 km/h, we have a limit of 140.
- You have a short respite ahead, and then prepare for the Dakar. What are your expectations for the 2018 race?
D.S.: I think the opponents will be as charged as usual. Most likely, one of them is preparing something new. The composition will be almost the same, everyone will be fully armed. Next year is the fortieth edition of the Dakar. And the organizers are striving to bring something of their own in order to surpass their competitors - both the Silk Road and Africa Flight. There is information that the race will return to Peru, famous for its good tracks. These are high dunes, good sand, which was missing in last years. The race will be very unpredictable.
All competitors are very motivated, and every year the competition and the density of the squad is only growing. Therefore, there is no need to relax. We need to prepare ourselves for a race that will be interesting for the spectators and for us. There are no easy Dakars at all.
It doesn’t often happen that the winner of a two-week rally-raid is determined on a short final special stage, but this is exactly what should have happened at the Silk Road 2017. Unfortunately, this special stage was canceled due to rain, so there was no finishing spurt. However, two days before this it became clear that the podium this time would be entirely Russian.
If in the SUV classification the balance of power was more or less clear before the start, then among trucks, on the contrary, it was very difficult to name a favorite. Of course, the strongest Russian team KAMAZ-master was among the leaders, but this time all their key competitors came to the race, including Ales Lopreis and Martin Kolomy on Tatra, Gerard de Rooy and Ton van Genugten on Iveco and Martin van den Brink at Renault.
The triumph of the “Blue Armada” at the end of the marathon looks all the more convincing – all three first places at the finish line went to crews driving KAMAZ trucks. The victory, already the second in his career, was celebrated by Dmitry Sotnikov, who drove a completely new KAMAZ 43509 truck with an inline six-cylinder 13-liter engine - these are the ones the team will soon have to use at the Dakars, where new restrictions on the maximum volume will come into force next year power plants. So, in addition to victory, Sotnikov brought KAMAZ-master and confidence in the future.
However, Anton Shibalov lost only three minutes to Sotnikov at the end of the two-week race. New items were also tested on Shibalov's truck, although not so radical - a new clutch and gearbox. But the most remarkable thing is that Shibalov started this race as a “combat technician” - it was on his truck that a heavy module with spare parts was installed to help the rest of the crews. When it became clear that Anton was fighting for high places, this module was, of course, removed, but without it in the first stages Shibalov could have been even faster.
Last year's Silk Road winner Airat Mardeev ran the race carefully and very consistently, finishing third. For a driver who has already won two Silk Roads and one Dakar, third place is not a reason for joy, but Airat’s main task at this rally raid was a test automatic transmission transmission, demonstrating very promising, but at the same time contradictory characteristics. The box withstood the marathon with honor - following the results of a two-week struggle, Airat lost to Sotnikov by only 20 minutes.
The fourth KAMAZ-master truck, driven by the current Dakar winner Eduard Nikolaev, ended up only tenth at the end of the race. Eduard, as usual, was very fast on the special stages, but the technology let him down - due to numerous mechanical problems Nikolaev lost several hours on the highway and received 111 hours of penalties. Of course, with such a handicap we couldn’t count on high places. Eduard's truck featured a suspension with hydraulic supports, but it remains to be seen what role this solution played in the crew's technical problems.
Fourth place on the “Silk Road” went to an old friend of “KAMAZ-master” Arthur Ardavichus - once a Kazakh racer raced on KAMAZ trucks. Today he represents the main competitors of the Russian team, Team de Rooy, and raced on an Iveco truck. Arthur rode very steadily, avoided serious technical problems and penalties, and although he lost more than two hours to the leaders, he can certainly be pleased with this result.
Representatives of the Belarusian MAZ-SPORTauto also performed well. MAZ trucks took fifth, seventh and eighth places, with team leader Sergei Vyazovich being the best. There were some technical problems, although a significant part of Vyazovich's six-hour lag was the result of piloting and navigation errors.
A distinctive feature of the marathon was the problems of several category leaders at once. Ales Loprais left the race very early - after the first stage his Tatra had to be repaired in Naberezhnye Chelny, at the KAMAZ-Master base, but in the end the Czech still had to leave the race. Once again, as has happened more than once before, Martin van den Brink's Renault caught fire. In general, none of the three Renault trucks made it to the finish line in Xi'an.
The eternal rival of KAMAZ-master, Gerard de Roy, also faced significant difficulties. The Dutchman came to the Silk Road to test a new independent suspension, and the tests cannot be called particularly successful. The usually fast de Rooy did not shine this time with results, he constantly stopped, and, ultimately, although he was able to finish, he took the last, 16th place. The question of which car Gerard will use in the winter remains open - as, indeed, which continent he will prefer to compete on.
RESULTS:
1 place, crew No. 303 pilot Dmitry Sotnikov, navigator Ruslan Akhmadeev, mechanic Ilnur Mustafin
2nd place, crew No. 312, pilot Anton Shibalov, navigator Andrey Mokeev, mechanic Dmitry Nikitin
3rd place, crew No. 300 pilot Airat Mardeev, navigator Aidar Belyaev, mechanic Dmitry Svistunov
ABOUT THE RACE:
Chasing the White Tiger
Never before at the start of the Silk Way Rally, which dates back to 2009, has there been such an outstanding top line-up of representatives of the rally-raid discipline vying for victory.
Last year's winners, the Peugeot Sport team fielded three new 3008 DKR prototypes at the start of the race, driven by Stéphane Peterhansel (thirteen-time Dakar Rally winner), Sebastien Loeb (nine-time world rally champion) and last year's winner Cyril. Depre. The German BMW X-Raid team was represented by two MINI cars John Cooper Works Rally, which was piloted by Arab driver Yazid Al-Rajhi and young American driver Bryce Menzies. The Chinese athlete Han Wei on the Geely Boyue Hanwei SMG Team buggy, as well as the leader of the Baicmotor Racing Team Pascal Tomassa with Christian Lavielle, showed themselves as contenders for the podium. In the T2 category, where production all-wheel drive cars compete, all eyes were on the battle between Toyota Autobody's Akira Miura and Isuzu's Adrian di Lallo.
Among the trucks, the main favorite was initially considered the “Blue Armada” - four KAMAZ-Master crews. In the colors of the Chelny giant, two-time winner of the Silk Road Airat Mardeev, as well as the current Dakar champion Eduard Nikolaev, Anton Shibalov and Dmitry Sotnikov competed in the race. The functions of the team manager were performed by eight-time Dakar winner Sergei Savostin (team director Vladimir Chagin was in charge of the overall management of the Silk Road project).
The fact that the stakes were high was evidenced by the pace of the rivals set from the very first stages of the race.
The main rival of KAMAZ-master was the IVECO team of Gerard de Rooy (winner of the Dakar rally in 2012 and 2016) with his teammates Arthur Ardavichus and Tony van Genugten. From the very start, Martin van den Brink, the “flying Dutchman” of the truck category, driving for the RENAULT team, imposed a tough fight in the standings. The team leader was supported by two more crews - Pascal de Bar and Gert Huznik. The Belarusian MAZ-SPORTauto also exhibited three trucks. The composition of pilots is traditional: Sergey Vyazovich, Alexey Vishnevsky and Alexander Vasilevsky. Czech Tatra was represented by two teams - Ales Loprais started in a car prepared by the Instaforex Loprais Team, and Martin Kolomy competed in a truck from Tatra Baggyra Racing.
The intensity of the fight in the truck classification is evidenced by the fact that the category leaders approached the finals of the race with a minimal difference in results and the winner of the two-week rally-raid had to be determined in a short final special stage. But this stage was canceled due to rain, however, two days before it became clear that the podium this time would be entirely Russian.
If in the SUV classification the balance of power was more or less clear before the start, then among trucks, on the contrary, it was very difficult to name a favorite. Of course, KAMAZ-master was initially among the leaders, but this time all their key competitors came to the race.
The triumph of the “Blue Armada” at the end of the marathon looks all the more convincing - all three first places at the finish line went to crews driving KAMAZ trucks. The victory, already the second in his career, was celebrated by Dmitry Sotnikov, whose crew competed on a completely new KAMAZ 43509 truck with an inline six-cylinder 13-liter engine - these are exactly the kind the team will soon have to use at the Dakars, where new restrictions on road transport will come into force in 2018. maximum volume of power plants.
Following the results of the two-week race, Anton Shibalov's crew lost only three minutes to Sotnikov. It is noteworthy that the crew began this race as a “fast technician” - it was on their truck that a heavy module with spare parts was installed to help the rest of the crews. Last year's Silk Road winner Airat Mardeev ran the race carefully and very consistently, finishing third. The main task of his crew at this rally raid was to test the automatic transmission, which demonstrates very promising characteristics. The box withstood the marathon with honor - following the results of a two-week struggle, Airat lost to Sotnikov by only 20 minutes.
The race's finishing ceremony in Xi'an was the culmination of two weeks of intense struggle across the rain-drenched roads of Russia, the endless steppes of Kazakhstan and the scorching deserts of China. Despite the fact that the entire podium was occupied by Russian athletes, the rivals intend to take revenge next year. Silk Road 2018 is just around the corner!
| 1 | Dmitry Sotnikov | Ruslan Akhmadeev | Ilnur Mustafin | |
| 2 | Anton Shibalov | Andrey Mokeev | Dmitry Nikitin | |
| 3 | Airat Mardeev | Aidar Belyaev | Dmitry Svistunov |
