Press releases

MINSK, 15 January (BelTA) - MAZ-SPORTavto crew led by pilot Sergei Vyazovich ended Stage 10 of the 2015 Dakar Rally in third place, having had a series of mechanical issues in the previous stages of the competition, BelTA has learned.

Sergei Vyazovich (race number 510), his co-pilot Pavel Garanin and mechanic Andrei Zhigulin finished the 860km tenth leg of the Dakar Rally in 4h19m36s which was 3rd fastest, 1m19s behind the time set by the front-runner, KAMAZ’s Eduard Nikolaev. The Belarusians were followed by such famous pilots as Czech Ales Loprais (MAN) in 4th, and Dutch Gerard De Rooy (Iveco) in 5th and Hans Stacey (Iveco) in 6th. Russia’s Airat Mardeev was second fastest in the stage and continues to hold sway in the general classification of the trucks. After Stage 10, Sergei Vyazovich sits 34th in the cumulative tally, 31h01m02s back of the overall leader.

MAZ’s second entry, Alexander Vasilevsky (race number 535), took 10th in the stage and maintains his position in top 10 of the general classification losing 6h42m10s to Russia’s Airat Mardeev.

Vladimir Vasilevsky (race number 560) crossed the finishing line in 30th, 58m16s off the pace, and moved from 43rd to 39th in the general classification.

The 520km route of Stage 11 of the Dakar Rally for trucks will take competitors from Salta, Chile, to Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina.