About the new track in Saudi Arabia
Andrei Karginov : I think it’s already possible to say that the current Dakar will go down in history. This year, the rally moved to Saudi Arabia, and this is the third country in the history of the race. We went there with excitement, because the East, as you know, is a delicate matter. But it turned out that the people there are very friendly, and it took very little time to adapt.
Anton Shibalov : The new continent is always interesting. The organizers provided for a colorful opening ceremony and a classy finish podium. We were surprised, this has not happened for a long time. And, of course, the country itself is very beautiful. On the eve of the race, however, there were some fears that the route might not be diverse enough, but in the end everything was great. In the first half of the rally, sandy areas prevailed, in the second - rocky, with the landscape changing almost every day. We drove through almost the whole country.
A.K .: Indeed, contrary to expectations, the track turned out to be difficult. This was understandable, if only by the way we felt when leaving the cab - the whole body hurt. And also by how the cars “felt” themselves. Mechanics had to sparkle with welding until the very morning, cars also experienced enormous loads. In general, I want to see more of these routes, and also, possibly, to “hook” next year some other country from the neighboring ones. Rally-raids are good because you can get acquainted with the region and the population, and also show the locals what kind of cars are and what they are capable of.
A. Sh.: I remember the landscapes, they are very beautiful there: all these canyons, stones that look as if their termites were eaten. But the track was not only diverse, but also very difficult. However, Dakar is never easy, because all participants see the route for the first time. Rally raids are not a discipline in which you can hone turn after turn, constantly improving it. We have to adapt to the conditions right on the spot.
A.K .: This year there was another “highlight”: when we stood on the podium, the anthem of Russia played. This happened for the first time in the history of Dakar. It was very unexpected, and we were all overwhelmed with pride.
About spectator interest and participation of Fernando Alonso
A.K .: The fact that Fernando Alonso came to Dakar this year, of course, increased the spectator's interest in the race. Surely it was watched by many fans of Formula 1, as well as personal fans of the pilot. Yes, and we, too, were pleased to be side by side with him. And sometimes it happened that they started together.
A. Sh.: In general, everything was well organized, but there were no spectators at the finish line. Of course, after what we got used to in Argentina, there weren’t enough meeting fans. On the other hand, there are pluses to this, because a crowd of fans usually complicates maneuverability a bit.
A. K.: Everything doesn’t ideally happen right away, there are always some rough spots at first. Perhaps the absence of spectators was due to the fact that the tournament was not well covered in the media. It is also worth considering the specifics of the country - maybe the fans simply did not want to let the race participants directly. But, I think, the organizers will draw the right conclusions and everything will work out in the future.
On the departure from the distance of the crew of Eduard Nikolaev
A. Sh.: The crew of Eduard Nikolaev spent the whole night in the desert, the guys went over the motor themselves, but then they still had to stop participating in the race. Of course, we worried about them, did not see them for two nights. But almost all of us, during the course of our careers, once remained in the desert or in the steppe. And when the crew remains face to face with its problem, this is the overcoming, this is what rally raids are interesting for.
You never know how much time you will spend searching for a solution. Panic usually happens at first, and it seems to you that you will spend your whole life in this desert! But in such a situation, a person activates the brain, and then you are surprised at yourself. Sometimes you start to act outside the box, and this is the school of life that you have to go through.
A.K .: Of course, we will understand, we will look for reasons why Edward encountered such problems. Hopefully this will not happen again. The guys even burned a fire, so as not to freeze at night, when they sorted out the engine. In Saudi Arabia now, like ours, it is winter, and it is cold at night. So the guys found the branches, lit a fire and periodically warmed themselves while repairing the car. It is very, very difficult to repair a car, being far from civilization, in a foreign country, in the desert, in the cold, on your own and with a minimum number of spare parts.
A. Sh.: Nikolaev this year, indeed, was not lucky. But such is motorsport. Today, luck is on your side, and tomorrow the opposite is true. Yes, he had to leave the race, but any of us could be in his place. In general, this year the percentage of those who reached the finish line was quite small, there were many who, like Nikolaev, got off the route. This suggests that the track was very difficult - almost like a race for survival.
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Watch an interview with the winners of the Dakar 2020 rally, Andrey Karginov and Anton Shibalov, on Auto Plus today at 20:10. Members of the KAMAZ-master team shared the features of the race and everything connected with it! #AutoPlus #AutoPlusTV # Dakar # Dakar2020 # Rally # Kamaz # KamazMaster # Russia #Dakar # Dakar2020 #Kamaz #KamazMaster
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On competition with the Belarusian MAZ
AK: We were looking forward to the competition, we were preparing for it, and in this regard, of course, one of the main irritants was Sergey Vyazovich at MAZ. Before the start, we looked at each other and realized that it would not be easy for anyone. But our team is very glad that there are such rivals, this makes us improve and overcome the distance even faster. When someone steps on their heels, you start looking for reserves in yourself. I think that in the coming years MAZ will become an even more prepared team. The more interesting it will be.
About mutual assistance in rally raids
A.Sh .: “Dakar” is a collection of stories about mutual assistance. Because when you see that people in cars got somewhere far from civilization, and within a radius of two hundred kilometers there are not just gas stations or shops with food and water, but not a soul at all, then, of course, their only hope is passing by crews. Fortunately, now the organizers have warning systems, and in case of serious danger a helicopter will fly. But before this was not, and, probably, from those times the tradition was born of not passing by those who need help.
At least you stop and ask how to help, leave the water, because it is not known how long they will stand. At the last Dakar, we just helped the MAZ team, our competitors, pulled them out of the salt marsh, and as a result they took second place. But even though they were our rivals, we could not just leave. Because tomorrow we ourselves may find ourselves in such a situation. It’s unpleasant, after all, when the participants pass by, even seeing that you have problems. And this, unfortunately, also happens.
About the girls at Dakar
AK: Girls take part in Dakar, moreover, in the motorcycle class, and, of course, we never cease to be surprised at this. This is the most difficult category! You yourself are a pilot, a navigator, and a mechanic. This is the hardest class even for men, but it turns out that girls are also actively trying their strength in it.
A.Sh .: Women in auto racing are always interesting, but rally raids, in my opinion, are still not a female matter. Here, after all, both Spartan conditions and the most severe physical exertion. On the other hand, we have great respect for the same motorcyclists, and if we see that this is also a girl, then we respect even more.
Of course, they have a lot of experience and many years of preparation behind them, but personally, I would think, I could not have traveled such a route on a motorcycle. But if a female team appears in the truck class, it will be fun. Although, to be honest, I can’t imagine this crew. After all, just changing the wheel on a truck is far from being a spit for us. What kind of girls should these be to throw a wheel weighing more than one hundred kilograms ?!
About families
AK: I have two sons, and both are interested in car racing. The eldest followed in my footsteps, he is already a three-time winner of Karting in Tatarstan. Now my dad is engaged with him, and before that he devoted his whole life to karting with me. And still not tired. Apparently, the love of motorsport is passed down from generation to generation - at one time from my father to me, and now to my son. But this is natural. I, too, can only teach my son what I can do best myself. And while he is engaged in karting and he likes everything, I will not stop him, I am ready to participate and help. And the youngest is only three and a half years old, but he also can’t live without a rudder.
A.Sh .: Those close to Dakar are, of course, already used to it. Although once they laughed, they said, they say, truckers. Of course, it is difficult to leave for a long time from relatives, but these periods of separation, to be honest, only bring us together.
A.K .: Sometimes I have doubts about whether my children need big sport at all. After all, this is, first of all, hard work, and all these victories that you see are only the tip of the iceberg. And under it - constant and hard work every day. Discipline, early climbs, gym visits. Of course, it’s too late for me to change something, but children still have a choice. And on the other hand, sport tempers, and in this, of course, there are a lot of advantages for them.
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"DAKAR 2020" 🏁 Highlights of crew # 501🔥 #kamazmaster #kamazkart #kamaz #bankvtb #totalrussia #rostec # Rostec #mercedesrussia #RedBullRussia #redbull # 1c #tatneft #ESAB # atmgroup # Dakar # KamazmastererthealthGroup palfinger #varta #haier # Dakar2020
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About future competitions
A. K.: Already in the course of the Dakar itself, as a rule, there are some thoughts about the race next year. You manage to spy something on your rivals, and immediately think: how to make the car go even faster? In general, the entire team of the KamAZ-Master team works only for this: to increase the speed of cars. So preparation for the next Dakar begins almost immediately after the previous one, although there is still a Russian championship and the Silk Way rally ahead, for which we will also seriously prepare. After all, this race is also very high interest.
A. Sh.: So far, they have not even been able to take a break after Dakar 2020. There will be a week-long vacation, but immediately after the race there is a continuation - visiting various events, talking with journalists, numerous interviews. We call this the “13th special stage”, coming after the 12 that are provided for in the rally-raid. And if we talk about the future, then, as you know, victory is always harder to keep than to achieve it. When there is already a result, it is much more difficult to repeat it from year to year. But on the other hand, no other team seems to have such an army of fans as ours. And that, of course, helps a lot.
About what "Dakar" is better than "Formula 1"
A.K .: If you think about it, Dakar has a lot of advantages compared to Formula 1. This is a long period of competition and off-road ... And also KamAZ-Master comes to Dakar, but not to Formula!