MINSK, 4 January (BelTA) – Siarhei Viazovich's crew of MAZ-SPORTauto Team finished third at Stage 2 of the Dakar 2021, BelTA has learned.
The second special part was 457km. Siarhei Viazovich's crew clocked 4:44.14, 6.30 behind the winner of the stage, Dmitry Sotnikov of KAMAZ-Master (4:37.44). Second at the Bisha-Wadi Ad-Dawasir stage was Russia's Airat Mardeyev, 3.17 back.
Second Belarusian crew under Aliaksei Vishneuski clocked 4:45.14 to finish 4th.
Dmitry Sotnikov tops the truck standings (8:01.39). Second is Belarus' Siarhei Viazovich (17.14 back). Third is Russia's Anton Shibalov of KAMAZ-Master Team (22.03 back). Aliaksei Vishneuski goes 11th (1:26.25 back).
The route begins and ends in the same city – Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). The length of the route will be more than 7,600 kilometers (including 4,767 kilometers of special sections). Earlier it was supposed that the race will take place on the territory of the neighboring countries of Saudi Arabia, but these plans had to be abandoned because of the quarantine restrictions.
The Dakar 2021 events are held every day for 14 days, except for one day off (9 January). According to the organizers, the routes have been reconfigured by 80% compared to last year's.
