Ayrat Mardeev is back at the Dakar and looking to improve on last year's performance
Name: Ayrat Mardeev Date of Birth: January 1, 1987 Nationality: Russian Machine: Kamaz 4326 Debut: 2012 Mar del Plata (Argentina) to Lima (Peru). Did Not Finish
New Year’s Day 2012 was a special day for Ayrat Mardeev. Not only did the date represent the opening stage of the 2012 Dakar Rally but it was also Ayrat’s 25th birthday.
Ayrat’s rapid rise within Team Kamaz from mechanic to co-pilot to pilot saw him behind the wheel for the first time at the Dakar Rally last year. His previous Dakar experience came from sitting alongside his dad IIgizar as the crew’s mechanic.
After the birthday celebrations at the start-line in Mar del Plata the 2012 Dakar turned sour for Ayrat when he was forced to withdraw from the race on stage 10. Along with co-pilot and former Dakar winner Aydar Belyaev as well as mechanic Anton Mirniy, he will be hoping for a far better performance in 2013.
Ayrat prepared for his second attempt at driving the Dakar by racing the Silk Way Rally where he improved upon his fifth-place finish in 2011 to win the prestigious race. Ayrat’s experience over the sands of Turkmenistan and Kalmykia will be invaluable when it comes to tackling the Dakar.
“After participating as a mechanic in the truck of my father in 2009, my biggest memory from the Dakar were those exciting minutes before the start of the first stage 2012, my first experience as a driver.
We prepared for the Dakar by taking part in 3 Russian Championship races as well as the Silk Way Rally that we won.
“We prepared for the Dakar by taking part in 3 Russian Championship races as well as the Silk Way Rally that we won. We also took part in two training camps in Morocco and Astrakhan. On the 2013 Dakar, I hope to see more sandy stages, and off-road terrain. I think an interesting battle is guaranteed.”