KamAZ takes 1st, 2nd and 3rd place at 2015 Dakar

[kscarbel2]

Prime Mover Magazine / January 19, 2015

The 2015 Dakar rally concluded on Saturday in Buenos Aires with a triple win by Russia’s KamAZ brand. The company’s Master race trucks crossed the finish line in first, second, and third place.

The 2015 edition of the world-famous event, which originated on the African continent, was the rally’s seventh consecutive year to be held in South America.

The route covered 9,000km (5,592 miles) in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, crossing the Andes Mountains and racing the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt lake, before venturing in the Atacama Desert, commonly known as the driest place on Earth.

In total, 63 racing trucks representing twelve different commercial vehicle brands competed in the Dakar 2015 rally. KamAZ sent four trucks to successfully defend its title.

The winning trucks were supported by several key suppliers, including Belgian juggernaut Wabco, which has provided KamAZ’ heavy-duty race trucks with high-performance air compressors, wheel-end solutions, coupling controls and brake cylinders.

“The Dakar Rally represents two grueling weeks in the most challenging terrain on Earth. It is the ultimate test for trucks and teams alike”, said Vladimir Chagin, director of NP KamAZ-Avtosport, leader of the KamAZ Master team.

Stage 13 (Final) Overall Ranking: http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2015/us/stage-13/rankings/overall-trucks.html

Team KamAZ: http://www.kamazmaster.ru/en

Redbull (Like father, like son): http://www.redbull.com/en/motorsports/offroad/stories/1331700349831/ayrat-mardeev-2015-dakar-rally-champion-interview-story

Wabco: http://www.wabco-auto.com/nc/media/media_center/press_releases_wabco/press_releases_single_view/news-article/kamaz-master-truck-racing-team-defends-championship-title-at-dakar-rally-2015-supported-by-wabcos-h/

.

[kscarbel2]

Dakar: Ayrat Mardeev finishes off first Dakar title in trucks

NBC Sports / January 17, 2015

Ayrat Mardeev has won his first Dakar Rally and the 13th for the dominant KAMAZ team in the truck category following a third-place showing in Sunday’s rain-shortened final stage.

KAMAZ locked out the overall podium with Mardeev topping Eduard Nikolaev by 13 minutes, 52 seconds. Coming in third was 2014 Dakar winner Andrey Karginov at 51 minutes off the pace.

Nikolaev may well be wondering if it would have been him on the top step in Buenos Aires if not for a turbo-charger failure on his truck in Stage 7 that cost him more than an hour.

A win in Stage 8 and runner-up in Stage 9 brought him back up to second place overall behind Mardeev, and it appeared he had the momentum behind him again.

But even with another victory in Stage 10, it did next to nothing in bringing him closer because Mardeev finished second that day at a mere 49 seconds back.

That proved critical for Mardeev, who would manage his lead with finishes of ninth, fifth, and third in the remaining stages to take the crown for himself. Nikolaev may have led all truck drivers with six stage wins, but Mardeev’s consistency won out.

As for Stage 13, Hans Stacey pulled off an impressive third consecutive stage win to end his Dakar the same way he started it. Stacey and his Iveco out-hustled the MAN of Marcel Van Vliet by 1 minute, 21 seconds.

Video: http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/17/dakar-ayrat-mardeev-finishes-off-first-dakar-title-in-trucks/

[Vladislav]

Thank you for posting that.

It's cool to learn Russia-related news from international source.

Still wonder what is a matter of KamAZ's success having so many serious competitors.