Sotnikov’s turn?

One of the secrets to the success of the Kamaz squad is their team spirit. The drivers of the blue trucks endlessly insist on the fact that the most important is to see a Kamaz vehicle on the top of the Dakar podium, or, ideally, three blue trucks on that podium. Other than having a fantastic machine, that’s how the Russian factory team has conquered so many crowns on the Dakar. Alongside Karginov ? Shibalov and Mardeev, Dmitry Sotnikov will again be another key asset of the squad. The 34-year-old was born and raised in Naberezhnye Chelny in the typical Kamaz tradition, like so many other Kamaz team members. Winner of the Silk Way and the Africa Eco Race in 2013, he was finally given a chance to shine on the Dakar in 2014. His first experience was indeed a fine one as he crossed the finish line in an excellent 4th spot, having claimed his first ever stage success. Since then, he has carried on his consistent run, reaching second spot both in 2017 and 2019. For the first edition in Saudi Arabia, Sotnikov only suffered one bad day when he finished 23rd of stage 3, before hitting back in style claiming a stage and finishing fourth in Qiddiyah. Despite a troubled year, Sotnikov managed to claim the Gold of Kagan rally (in Astrakhan) in front of his team mates and will line up for his 8th Dakar alongside his navigator Ruslan Akhadeev and his mechanic Ilgiz Akhmetzianov. His secret goal is now to become the 7th Russian Kamaz driver to win the Dakar after Moskovskikh, Chagin, Kabirov, Nikolaev, Karginov and Mardeev.

Vladimir Chagin (team manager): “This year all of us appeared in a new situation. There was no possibility to enter new engineering modifications to the trucks in order to improve them as we had done in previous years. The pandemic COVID19 first of all affected sports, culture and all events were postponed or cancelled. But, nevertheless we are in good spirits, preparing for the start. All drivers are of equal level. For the Dakar we had to choose four crews that will defend our colours. The decision was not easy. This year Eduard Nikolaev will temporarily leave the wheel of the racing truck. Eduard will help me on the race to make organizational and technical decisions. I think that his long-term experience of a mechanic and driver will help him. The Dakar requires to take correct decisions extremely fast, only then you will be a champion.”