MINSK, 10 January (BelTA) - Siarhei Viazovich's crew of the Belarusian MAZ-SPORTauto Team came in fifth at Dakar's Stage 7, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian MAZ was 9:36 behind the stage winner Andrei Karginov from the Kamaz-Master Team of Russia who clocked 5:01.02 to clear the distance of 546km. Kamaz-Master's Dmitry Sotnikov was second (three seconds behind) and Anton Shibalov third (a lag of 2:05).
Siarhei Viazovich goes third overall, 46:39 behind Kamaz-Master's Andrei Karginov, who is the leader of the race with 30:06.45. Another Kamaz-Master crew piloted by Anton Shibalov is second (21:12).
For the first time ever the Dakar Rally is taking place in the Middle East after 11 years in South America. Saudi Arabia will be hosting the marathon rally for at least 5 years in a row from 2020. This year's rally is featuring 351 crews: 170 motorcycles and quad bikes, 134 cars and buggies, and 47 trucks. The rally raid will end in Qiddiya on 17 January.
