OREANDA-NEWS. Russia’s President has met with the KAMAZ-master team in Novo-Ogaryovo today. The meeting was devoted to the team’s victory in the Dakar 2014 rally which passed in Argentina – Bolivia – Chile.
The meeting was also attended by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and OJSC KAMAZ’s General Director Sergey Kogogin. The renowned racing drivers from the team headed by Vladimir Chagin shared their impressions of the race which became KAMAZ-master’s 12th victory. Vladimir Putin congratulated the team on the victory emphasizing its high importance for Russia`s international prestige.
The 35th Dakar rally-raid started in Rosario (Argentina) on the 5th of January and, after 13 stages on the territory of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, finished in Valparaiso (Chile) on the 18th of January. The total length of the Dakar-2014 route, including liaisons and special sections, is 8,734 km for motorbikes and quads, 9,374 km for cars, and 9,188 km for trucks.
Strong Dutch, Czech, German teams struggled for awards with the following KAMAZ-master’s crews: Eduard Nikolaev – Yevgeny Yakovlev – Vladimir Rybakov (#500), Ayrat Mardeev – Aydar Belyaev – Ayrat Israfilov (#503), Andrey Karginov – Andrey Mokeev – Igor Devyatkin (#506), Anton Shibalov – Robert Amatych – Almaz Hisamiev (#575), and Dmitry Sotnikov – Vyacheslav Mizyukaev – Andrey Aferin (#549). As a result, Crew 506 topped the chart, Crew 500 ranked third, Crew 549 took fourth place, and Crew 575 ranked fifth. Crew number 503 had an accident after winning the first stage and left the race.