A Kamaz’s hat-trick and another Kamaz truck in the seventh position in the final ranking of this year’s rally. Did you expect this result before starting the race, given the Dakar’s difficulties in the Arabian Peninsula?
Yes, this year we have a cool result, but you cannot reckon on it every year, it doesn’t happen often. The last hat-trick was 6 years ago in 2015. And in the rest years there also were defeats, and only two trucks on the podium. This year all three KAMAZ trucks managed to get on it, notwithstanding all difficulties of the route and the race itself. As you can see, the lag from the first to the third position at the finish is approximately one hour-twenty – one hour-fifteen. It is a very big gap, therefore every contestant had a chance to climb to the podium. Everyone had problems, everyone fought with them. Just the one, who lost less in the race, appeared on the podium. And the time range shows sharpness of the struggle and complicated route of this year.
An electronic roadbook delivered 10 minutes before the start of the stage, with fewer high-speed straight tracks and a speed limit of 90 km/h on dangerous route sections. How did these factors impact your racing style?
The Dakar has changed after moving to Saudi Arabia. According to the last-year experience, we realized what landscapes awaited us, but this year the organizers applied a new rule – electronic road-book. It was downloaded or handed over 10 minutes before the start, later this time increased up to 20 minutes, because navigation was one of the key points in this race. It was difficult for everyone, especially in the first half of the race, because we hadn’t used these devices before. It was our first experience. It means that the one, who was first to sort out everything, who worked better with the navigation, would have an advantage in the beginning. Yes, there were no straight sections, but I find it good – the struggle became more intense. In Saudi Arabia sections are laid less across populated areas, therefore there are less speed limits than in the South America. It is better for the racing part. The road-book was more intense, for me personally it helped to be more concentrated, more attentive. We drove carefully and this tactic brought a good result.
Can you describe, in some detail, the story of your Dakar this year? What’s about the main turning point/points of this year’s rally?
The key part was the first half of the race. We managed to win 4 SSs, we had a time margin and it allowed to go in a calmer and more accurate way. Although the race became more complicated and there were moments when we were nervous, as not everything went smoothly, there were problems with navigation, punctured wheels, dangerous trial river-beds, where you could get at a standstill due to any breakdown for 30-40 minutes. We tried to work in our pace, not slowing down much, I felt that we simply should hold our pace.
Who was the most challenging competitor this year? Macik? Loprais? Vishneuski? Van Den Brink?
We have strong rivals. This year Martin Macik improved greatly, developed his truck, came on an automatic transmission. He had a big desire, especially in the second half of the race, to climb higher in the table, he had a good pace. In the first half it didn’t work out very well for him, but I think that next year he will struggle not only for the podium but for the victory. Loprais is one of the most experienced, dangerous rivals. He always tries to drive fast, despite problems with the truck. He was very good. He had high speed on many sections. The struggle of Loprais and Macik was a decoration of the second half of the race. Loprais was a bit unlucky in the end, but he competed desperately. Aliaksei Visheuski becomes better and better every year. This year he drove a new bonnet truck, he looked decent. Their team won the prologue: Siarhei Viazovich was first, Visheuski was second. They tried to keep together, but technical problems threw Aliaksei a bit backwards, but during the rest part of the race he showed a stable result. I guess that next year he will be constantly in the leading group. Bad luck chases Van den Brink, it seems to me that the truck doesn’t allow him to drive in his pace. He is an experienced driver, we hope that in 2021 he will improve his truck and will be in the group of leaders. I would also like to mention a Chilean, a three-time winner in the quad category, Casale. He looked not bad the first time at the wheel of the truck, was very fast on some SS. Perhaps he doesn’t have enough experience, but seems a very smart, analyzing racer. He always looks attentively who, how and on what drives. I consider that he will get a toehold in the truck category and during several years he will be one of the leaders. And we are waiting for the return of Gerard de Rooy in 2021. I don’t know in what composition, but on new trucks the struggle will be even more intense.
You said, as Vladimir Chagin did, this year’s success is due to the entire Kamaz team. Can you explain the role of the truck in this result? Were your Kamaz 4309 with a 13-liter Dongfeng-Cummins engine and automatic gearbox as reliable and high-performing as you expected?
The role of the truck is big, I would say that 50% is a vehicle and 50% are people in the cab of the vehicle. How ready they are and how they can implement this power. The truck is a fruit of the whole team’s labor, not only this year but in last years as well, it is a multi-year experience. Level of the team rises every year and I consider our trucks one of the best according to technical specifications. Including the engine. It makes me happy, its power allows to overcome dunes, sandy river-beds. We constantly develop not only in the engine field, but also in chassis, crews train constantly, raise their level. Victory is a result of the whole team, correct preparation of trucks and people.
How can you describe your driving style? Are you aggressive, cool, a tactician?
Perhaps everyone has a different understanding of these styles. I consider that the style should include all these characteristics – aggressive, cool-headed, tactic. Sometimes the style is aggressive, perhaps, I like it more. In the first half of the Dakar it was like this, but in the second it was more tactic and cool-headed. We realized the whole situation and tried to act according to the moment, reducing risks. Many athletes change the style during the race. Rally-raids differ from other races that you need to understand, realize, what you do on the route every day.
Where do you feel at your best as a pilot? On rocky stretches? Soft desert sand? Dunes? Narrow and windy routes?
I consider that to drive in the leading group on the Dakar and want to win, you should feel well yourself on all these terrains, starting with stones and finishing with dunes. Unless you love all these surfaces, you won’t be strong to struggle for the first position. Sometimes I like curving tracks of the classic rally. The truck allows to drive it in effective way, but they are dangerous in the way that you can overdo a bit with it on the track. I try to train on all terrains, all directions equally.
Can you outline the significant steps in your career as a pilot of rally trucks? Where – I suppose in Chelny – and when did you start driving a rally truck?
My racing career started at the age of 8, when my father and I came to the karting club. At 9 I already went to the competitions and until 15 performed in karting. From 15 to 18 I competed in circular races in the category OKA-Junior. Then such class appeared and I represented ZMA (plant of light cars), that was in our city then. Then there was a small pause, connected with finishing the University. Then I came to the team. There was a buggy direction, we worked together with Valentin Nikolaev for 3 seasons. One of the seasons I could become a prize-holder of the Russian Cup. Then later in 2011 I started to try myself at the wheel of the truck. In 2012 I already drove the whole season and till now I perform in the role of a pilot.