“We have a chance!”
As a newcomer on the Dakar last year, Kazakhstan's Artur Ardavichus impressed, finishing in 8th place on the podium in Buenos Aires. Quite a performance for an unknown team that was able to prove their professionalism and courage to the world of off road rallying. For this new edition of the event, the Astana team shows up with a renewed crew in a modernized Kamaz, hoping to take a prize place at the finish of the race. Artur Ardavichus remains the man behind the steering wheel but will have at his side navigator Alexei Kuzmich and mechanic Nurlan Turlubayev. Team Astana is the first team not only from Kazakhstan, but also throughout Central Asia, participating in this prestigious and popular event.
"We are ready to fight and will do everything to get to the finish with maximum efficiency. The route of the rally this year is shorter, but they say - much harder. We will try to go as fast as possible, but at the same time drive very accurately. Our renewed crew has completely matched up, we understand each other and are ready to compete with teams and drivers in the fight for the podium of the 2012 Dakar. The number of Team Astana fans has steadily increased with each passing day and we just have to be worthy and clinch a respectable result. "
Die Strecke bot wirklich schöne und schwierige Dünen. Für uns war es eine normale Etappe: solides Tempo, der Truck ist gut gelaufen. Gerard De Rooy ist wirklich schnell. Ich weiß nicht, wie ich es angestellt habe, schneller als er zu sein. Er muss ein technisches Problem gehabt haben. Normalerweise ist er schneller als ich. Ich weiß nicht, ob ich ein guter Rivale bin, aber 1 km vor dem Ziel hat er mich überholt! 
gemeinde