News

09/01/06 - Nouakchott > Kiffa - 599 km - 874 km

KAMAZ of Vladimir Tchaguine was the first who conquered the main sport peak of “Lisbon-Dakar 2006” leg, the longest Nouakchott-Kiffa special in Mauritania of 599 km length. Within 10 h 07 min 41 sec the crew of Vladimir Tchaguine was having a wearisome combat against its competitors, route and tiredness.

The Brazilian Andre de Azevedo on “Tatra” diminished its lead to 33 min 44 sec, Carel Lopraise was accordingly 5 h 24 min 31 sec behind.

On 8 January to negotiate the last stage before getting to Mauritania capital and pass it in a definite time managed only Kabirov, Tchaguine and Stacey. Out of 69 competitors of truck battle that had started in Lisbon only 47 survived and received penalty time: the stage appeared to be too tiresome, perfidious and unpredictable for them.

Besides the battle of two teams “KAMAZ-Master” and MAN of Stacey looked too dramatic when the Hollander’s truck not the first day found itself disappearing in the most unexpected route places - in dust and sandy dunes.

Both checkpoints – 97 th km and 205 th km – the first passed the trucks of Kabirov and Tchaguine in one minute difference.

It was 16 o’clock of local time. Vladimir Tchaguine’s KAMAZ ¹ 508 alone was continuing violently “carving” his way to the finish line and he, despite all traditional navigation traps arranged on the route, was the fastest contending with all obstacles to the way to three checkpoints. Still there was over 100 km to the special stage end. The crew overcame them without any difficulties as usual.

Overall Ranking after Stage 9. Special Stage: 599 êì. Total: 874 êì

Pos.	Team number/Team		Truck	Time	Behind the leader
1	508	Tchaguine/Yakoubov/Savostine	KAMAZ	45h 55' 04''	0h 00' 00''
2	500	Kabirov/Belyaev/Mokeev	KAMAZ	49h 35' 54''	3h 40' 50''
3	524	Stacey/Gotlib/Der Kinderen	MAN	49h 49' 30''	3h 54' 26''
4	513	De Azevedo/Martinec/Justo	TATRA	50h 36' 30''	4h 41' 26''
5	509	Lopraise/Gilar/Lopraise	TATRA	51h 19' 35''	5h 24' 31''

...

19

514

Reshetnikov/Konopko/Nikolaev

KAMAZ

72h 29' 59''

26h 34' 55''

Tuesday, 10 January 2006

KAMAZ Crews Keep Status Quo

By morning of 10 January we learned results of the 9 th “Lisbon-Dakar 2006” stage among trucks. The road passed through “ Nouakchott-Kiffa” route – the last leg on Mauritania deserts. Further the route would pass over Mali, Guinea and Senegal.

Kabirov’s crew finished the 10 th 3 h 10 min 18 sec behind its team comrade – the stage winner. As a result Vladimir Tchaguine’s leadership upon results of nine stages had become implicit. Notwithstanding all tragedies Kabirov’s team overtook that day the KAMAZ trio saved its second place in fixture list. The third was Hans Stacey who lost Tchaguine 3 h 54 min 26 sec. Andre de Azevedo and Carel Lopraise caught up the cherished places of the three potential Dakar winners by accordingly 4 h 41 min 26 sec and 5 h 24 min 31 sec.

Tuesday, 10 January 2006