The KAMAZ-master team will take part in the Silk Way Rally, which will be held on July 6-16, connecting ten regions of Russia.
Head of the KAMAZ-master sports team, Vladimir Chagin, presented the new route of the Silk Way 2022 international rally. This year it will be for the first time held on the territory of the North Caucasus – the Chechen Republic and the Republic of Dagestan.
Presenting the route of the twelfth edition of the Silk Way Rally, the organizers noted that this time it is based on the historical aspect – the 350th anniversary of the birth of Emperor Peter I. The largest rally raid of Eurasia will connect ten regions of the Russian Federation, many of which are inextricably linked with the name of the great Russian reformer. This year’s race will go through Grozny, Elista, Volgograd, Voronezh.
“The upcoming start of the 12th edition of the most difficult cross-country rally is another important step in the long history of the project that has already become a real icon of Russian sports. This competition can rightly be called one of the most significant projects in the world of motor sports. The route is of particular interest, it has become a kind of repetition of the Great Silk Way that had passed through these places many centuries ago. It is important that some regions of the country will host such a large-scale sports event for the first time. I think that this will help, among other things, to popularize tourism in this country”, said Oleg Matytsin, Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation.
According to Vladimir Chagin, Head of the International Project Silk Way Rally, during the race competitors and fans will discover the beauties of Russian cities and the variety of natural landscapes encountered on the caravan route, as well as touch the centuries-old history of Russia.
“Extensive geography, a variety of climatic zones, stunning beauty of nature, and various landscapes will become an arena of sports challenges for seasoned racers and the first steps for newcomers to motor sports. This year competitors from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan will start. We are in touch with drivers from other countries, they assure us of sincere friendship, but this year they will not be able to take part. However, the most important thing is that the rally will take place,” he said.
The Silk Way Rally starts in Astrakhan on July 6. Pre-start events of the rally – administrative checks and scrutineering are scheduled for this day. Drivers will take to the starting podium on the next day, July 7, after they pass a short qualifying special stage that is mapped in the city, on the banks of the Volga River. Spectators will be able to see these first five competitive kilometers with their own eyes, which is very rare, because the rally is usually held in places that are not so accessible to the public. The total distance of the rally will be 4,380 kilometers, the total distance of the special stages – 2,800 kilometers. Representatives of all existing official categories will take part in the competition: trucks, cars, ATVs, as well as motorbikes and quads, which were included in the competition program in 2019. On July 16, 2022 there will be a Ceremonial finish in Moscow on Red Square.
“The route geography is full of different surfaces, from the Astrakhan sands to the mountainous special stages of the Caucasus. And such well-known teams as MAZ-SPORTauto and GAZ Raid Sport are planning to take part in the truck standings. The competition is more interesting with good opponents! Therefore, the fans will definitely not be bored and we will have an interesting fight in July!” said Dmitry Sotnikov, the reigning winner of the Silk Way Rally, KAMAZ-master team driver.
Along with other racers, ex-Formula 1 pilot Nikita Mazepin will take part in the current race. He will compete in the category of all-terrain vehicles in the T4 class. In addition, the rally organizers announced two new standings on the Silk Way route – Following Peter the Great Grand Tour, the category for beginner drivers, and the Legend historical category.
The International Silk Way Rally Project traces its history back to 2009; for many years it has been uniting not only the regions of the Russian Federation, but also the countries of Eurasia. In different years, the event took place on the territory of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Turkmenistan.