The annual rally-marathon DAKAR RALLY started in Saudi Arabia without the KAMAZ team
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For the fourth year in a row, the DAKAR rally-raid takes place in the deserts of Saudi Arabia. The race began on the Red Sea coast with an 11-kilometer prologue on December 31, and will end on January 15 in the Persian Gulf in Dammam – the new track of 14 sections has become the longest in the last 8 years.
Dutch driver Martin van den Brink shared his expectations for the Dakar 2023: “We are here with the de Rooy team, 4 trucks in one team. Last time we were the best after KAMAZ, this year we will fight for the podium. Without KAMAZ, the race will be no less difficult.”
In DAKAR RALLY, not only factory teams compete, but also independent crews. Therefore, despite the refusal of participation of the KAMAZ-master team, Russia will be represented in the marathon by racer Denis Krotov and navigator Konstantin Zhiltsov. They will compete in the SUV category. Aleksey Kuzmich will perform in the class of all-terrain vehicles. According to experts, the crew with his participation (performing under the UAE license) can count on getting into the top 3 at certain stages of the rally.
After the completion of the ninth stage on January 10, the Russian crew of Krotov and Zhiltsov showed the 22nd time – the duet is located on the same line in the overall standings of off-road vehicles. Before the top 20, Krotov lacks two and a half minutes. The crew of Yasir Seidan and Kuzmich showed the 9th time at the stage – in the overall standings, this duet, after problems at the start, takes a place in the third ten.
DAKAR RALLY includes off-road, ATV, motorcycle, ATV and truck racing.
Ivan Efremov.
Photo dakar.com
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