NIKOLAEV WAS FIRST TO CROSS THE EQUATOR OF THE SILK WAY RALLY

The first half of the ten-day race was finished with the fifth stage of the Silk Way Rally after which KAMAZ-master’s crew led by Eduard Nikolaev topped the general classification, reports press attaché of the team Erik Khayrullin.

The circle route in Grozny started backwards on Sunday’s track and partially repeated yesterday’s route in Chechnya and Dagestan. Thus, the crews drove on yet unfamiliar roads, but in a new direction. Two thirds of 218 kilometers of speedy sections have been earth-road, the remaining 30% of the road surface were sandy sections.

The beginning and the mid of the special section for the racers have become another challenge. Killing curving roads didn’t let the pilots relax even for a second. The off-road also affected the speed while passing the stage. In the truck standings, the KAMAZ-master crews could show an average speed of over 70 kph.

The crews should also be watchful and alert on quicksand. Seemingly small dunettas almost captivated Andrey Karginov who after yesterday’s difficult repair and late arrival at the bivouac started on the fully operational vehicle. A section of small dunettas stretching for one-two kilometers seemed quite safe when you looked at it fr om the cab. But the small sand peak was followed by a sheer drop. This was a natural trap into which Crew 303 drove. The vehicle flopped down. Fortunately, people sitting in the cab were not injured.

Andrey Karginov, Pilot of Crew 303: “Thank our mechanics who repaired the truck. In the morning, it has been as good as new. Today’s task has been not to win, but to drive safely trying to catch up with the guys narrowing their lead to start in a crowd in tomorrow’s marathon. We’ve driven over the place wh ere we broke yesterday, noticed our oil trail. It was a difficult track, with multiple off-road sections. We were crossing a rivulet in the zone of 30 kph limit. This brook was hidden in the grass and, when we dived, doubts arose if it was right to drive there, but everything worked out fine.”

Faster than Andrey Kargniov on Route Grozny – Grozny was only Eduard Nikolaev at the end of the racing day returning his leadership in the general classification. And even minor technical problems with suspension didn’t slow down the crew. The last 70 kilometers Nikoaev was keeping his truck on the track.

Eduard Nikolaev, Pilot of Crew 302: “Something went wrong with suspension. We had to fight with it in order to stay balanced. The running wasn’t smooth at all. The truck was jumping, so we had to keep the speed and be uptight trying not to lose control of the truck. Overall, the marathon conditions were great. This is what the real Silk Way should be. Heat? Rally-raids can’t do without them.”

Aliaksei Vishneuski faced the most serious problem among truck crews at the fifth stage. After several starting kilometers the turbine of the truck failed to function. The repair cost the Belorussian racers almost two hours. And Sergey Kuprianov didn’t have to rail against technical problems. His gas and diesel KAMAZ steadily got to the finish winning fourth position. Siarhei Viazovich replaced the wheels twice and finished fifth.

Dmitry Sotnikov, Pilot of Crew 300: “We smelt the oil and then saw the pneumatic system releasing air. We realized in the dunes that we couldn’t drive. It turned out that we had lost a rear brake. Edik Nikolaev was driving by, but we let him know that we would cope with it ourselves. A rear left shock absorber has dropped off too. Many times, we have radically changed the pace on a fast-changing terrain today. We tried to drive smoothly. But the track was killing. We were tired, perhaps, it also had its impact on us.”

Today, July 12, the sixth marathon stage Grozny – Elista is to be held. About 490 kilometers of mixed terrain will set the athletes interesting tasks, promise the organizers. Besides, during the marathon, the rivals aren’t allowed to get help from their technical support teams. They will need Buddhist serenity to balance their speed in pursuit of leadership and keep their truck safe getting to the finish line of the day. On this day, all technical support crews are obliged to stay in the bivouac in Grozny, that is to go to the bivouac in Elista on July 12 is prohibited.

Truck Category. Results of the 5th Stage

Truck Category. General Classification after the 5th Stage