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 | SA-Dakar 2012: Kamaz - "We are joining the rally to confirm our leadership".
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Russia’s Kamaz-Master team started preparations as soon as it returned from South Africa Dakar 2011, says head of the team Semyon Yakubov to the Russian Magazine "The Voice of Russia" [ english.ruvr.ru ].
"This year’s preparations are similar to that of those of the previous year. The new construction of the truck has been tested. We are joining the rally to confirm our leadership. Our rivals are also preparing actively. This year the competition will be tougher than that of last year," Semyon Yakubov said.
The crews of the Kamaz-Master team will be named shortly. The team, which was formed at the Kamaz truck factory ten years ago, is the only Russian group that defends the honour of Russia’s automobile industry. It has always been the leader of the Dakar Rally. Vladimir Chagin, who is a record holder in international rallies, is the seven-time winner of the prestigious rally. No one has surpassed his victories yet.
In 2010, he said he would leave big sport to give a chance to young people to demonstrate their skills at the route. At present, he is sharing his experience with young people at Russian higher educational establishments by demonstrating the legendary Kamaz race-truck and revealing the secrets of his hard-won victories.
This year Vladimir Chagin, who has been described by his foreign colleagues as King of Dakar, will be the manager of the team. He pins hope on the skills of young people in the team, Eduard Nikolaev and Airat Margeev. The young Kamaz drivers will add intrigue to the competition, says spokesman for the team Eric Khairullin.
"The young crews should compete with the experienced drivers from other teams at the same level. This is always a psychologically difficult task. Perhaps, the lack of experience might disturb them nevertheless, we hope the team will perform their duties deservedly," Eric Khairullin said.
2011/11/02 | 16:08 CET | ARTICLE: MR/SY/RUVR.RU
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