OREANDA-NEWS. Today in the South of France the international Africa Eco Race 2015 rally began. The participants passed administrative and technical tests and went to Spain to take a ferry to the Moroccan port of Nador, where the first stage of the race will start on December 30.

29 motorcycle drivers, 32 offroader and buggy crews as well as 9 trucks took up the struggle for the title of the Africa Eco Race 2015 best racers. This year the KAMAZ-Master team considered to be the strongest in the truck class performs in the Africa Eco Race 2015 with two crews: on Anton Shibalov’s diesel-fueled KAMAZ under number 401 and Sergey Kupriyanov’s gas-fueled KAMAZ under number 404. It is the first time that a gas-fueled sports vehicle takes part in the African race.

It is the seventh Africa Eco Race and it is going to be the most difficult one in its history: additional stages in Mauritania and Morocco were included into the rally route. It will be difficult and interesting both for the new participants and the experienced racers to contest during the 12 race stages with the total distance of 6,000 kilometers, half of which accounts for special sections. 

“The Africa Eco Race 2015 rally is an exam for the gas-fueled KAMAZ to help us test natural gas under extreme conditions. Our vehicle will have to pass sands, rocky plateaus and savannahs along the 6,000-kilometer route. We should make a sober estimate of our abilities and act according to the circumstances. A good result will be demonstrated by those who drive steadily,” noted Sergey Kupriyanov, driver of the gas-fueled KAMAZ.

Background

The gas-fueled KAMAZ is a special model of a sport truck powered by natural gas. The truck was customized in 2013 by the KAMAZ-Master team with the support of Gazprom and VTB Bank. The project is aimed at demonstrating the potential of natural gas as a vehicle fuel.

Gazprom Gazomotornoye Toplivo is the single operator of the Russian NGV market. The company was set up by Gazprom in December 2012 with a view to promote natural gas use as a vehicle fuel, which is more eco-friendly, efficient and safe as compared to conventional fuels.

The Africa Eco Race 2015 rally will be broadcast by Rossiya 24 and Lifenews. From December 28 to January 11 daily video reports and interviews with the race participants will be on air on the said TV channels.