KAMAZ Trucks’ marauding driver took time away from the Silk Way Rally 2010 in his native Russia to talk to redbull.com…
How much do you think the Silk Way helps you in the Dakar Rally?
On the one hand, the Silk Way is important to try new things and see how we perform during a rally raid. You cannot really test them [the trucks] at our home base. On the other hand, it’s something really special to race at home, in front of all our fans. This experience gives us strengh and self-confidence for the Dakar.
The new KAMAZ looks fantastic. Did you have a say in its development?
It was all based on our experiences on the races over the last year. We have the strongest machines, but the thing is to keep them consistent because a rally raid is several thousand kilometres long. For example, on the Silk Way we have to drive more than 4,000km. So it’s important that nothing breaks. Of course, I’m always talking with the engineers – after that, they see how they can implement what I’ve told them.
'My wife’s always worried when I’m at a race, as are the rest of my family'
What’s the toughest stage of the Silk Way?
Hard to say. But I think the special stages through the woods are narrow and you can easily hit a tree. Maybe the tree comes off second best, but it can still cause some trouble during the kilometres afterwards.
Apart from your team-mate, who is your biggest rival in this year’s Silk Way Rally?
The Iveco and Tatra trucks are also very strong and can challenge us. We saw this at the last Dakar. They always have problems over extremely long distances like in Argentina, but the Silk Way is much shorter, so they could be a danger.
It must be exciting for the Russian fans to have an event like this in their home country…
Definitely, it is enriching the reputation of motorsport in Russia and the fans can appreciate that. As we saw in St Petersburg and on the road between the special stages, they are all totally behind us.
Would you like to try driving one of the VW Touareg cars like that of Carlos Sainz?
I don’t think that would fit my driving style – I guess I’d damage it, as I’m more used to bigger things [laughs].
Who will you call first if you win the 2010 Silk Way Rally?
My wife, to tell her that I’ve won and that I’m fine. She’s always worried when I’m at a race, as are the rest of my family…
Vladimir Chagin was speaking to Hans Harich
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