The #silkwayrally returns in 2021 with an intriguing 10-stage schedule. This year the race becomes part of the FIA Cross-Country Rallies World Cup for the first time, while it remains on the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship calendar. This means championship points are on offer for competitors on both two and four wheels.
There is also local pride at stake for Russian trucking giants Team Kamaz Master. ‘The Blue Armada’ have won all but one of the truck contests at the previous nine editions of the Silk Way. They will once again be out to give their home fans plenty to cheer as they start the race in the Siberian city of Omsk.
At the controls of the convoy of race trucks Kamaz have entered into the #rally are a clutch of drivers who have already tasted glory at the Silk Way and also the Dakar Rally. Here are the six crews that will be flying the blue flag for Kamaz in Russia and Mongolia this month…
#500: Pilot Anton Shibalov; Co-pilot Dmitry Nikitin; Mechanic Ivan Tatarinov
#501: Pilot Dmitry Sotnikov; Co-pilot Ruslan Akhmadeev; Mechanic Ilgiz Akhmetzianov
#504: Pilot #eduardnikolaev; Co-pilot Evgenii Iakovlev; Mechanic Iskander Romanov
#505: Pilot Ayrat Mardeev; Co-pilot Dmitry Svistunov; Mechanic Vadim Akhmetov
#507: Pilot Andrey Karginov; Co-pilot Andrey Mokeev; Mechanic Ivan Malkov
#513: Pilot Bogdan Karimov; Co-pilot Albert Arslanov; Mechanic Vladimir Rybakov.
These Kamaz crews can expect a tough ride all the way to Ulaanbaatar from the world class field of competitors also entered into the truck race. Perennial Dakar and Silk Way rivals in race trucks from Maz, Renault and Volvo will all be out to get the better of the Russian team.
“We know we must be at our very best to win because all of our closest rivals will come to the Silk Way. It is guaranteed to be an interesting fight all the way to the finish line.” – Eduard Nikolaev
