Linked in categories: 2018 | Dakar 2018 | Rallyraid

Dakar Rally 2018: Kamaz Manager Gennadyevich - ´You feel the lack of oxygen´

lang Editor: Hansy Schekahn lang Photos: See credits under article   lang In database since January 12, 2018

Cold weather in the Bolivian capital was over and above compensated by warm welcome of La Paz citizens, greeting the contestants of the Dakar Rally. The number of people on the street was impressing. There was "alive" corridor from the city suburbs to the bivouac of the race. Unlike the previous days, the top ten placed approximately within 10 minutes in the stage results. Dmitry Sotnikov’s Kamaz-crew was on the 4th position, Nikolaev – on the 6th, Mardeev on 8th and Anton Shibalov finished the special 11th.

"The weather changed sharply," said Kamaz-Master Team Leader Vladimir Gennadyevich. "When we climbed on the height of more than 4500 meters, it was as if we got into a Russian winter. It was snowy, hailing. Slippery curvy roads awaited the contestants, and therefore they were very dangerous as on the right and on the left there were cliffs, canyons."

"It was important to hold out and adapt to the changed conditions, not to lose positions. You can’t win – you saw how packed the finish was according to the results table. Everyone waited for the rest day, however, it met us with cold weather. But the main thing is that we had a good day. I would not say that we could improve some positions, but the most important is that we did not lose them.

He continued: "Now serious heights have begun. They are difficult not only for vehicles but for people as well. You feel the lack of oxygen. Sportsmen are hard to breath. And, of course, engines. Engine preparation to the heights is of a great importance. Especially on Bolivian parts. And the pleasant fact is that our new inline six-cylinder engine on Dmitry Sotnikov’s truck performs well. We hope that in the further days the engine will work in the same stable way."

"A big maintenance and repair day is planned. Parts, that due to their resource may go out of order in the second half of the race, need to be changed. It is important to take into consideration that first after rest day stage La Pas – Uyuni is a marathon stage. Therefore we need additionally load necessary parts, check everything thoroughly. Assistance team will prepare the trucks for two days, as on the bivouac in Uyuni assistance team will have no access to the trucks. From La Pas they will straightway go to Tupiza."


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