MINSK, 2 January (BelTA) - Belarusian MAZ-SPORTavto team flew to Peru where it will partake in Dakar Rally 2019, BelTA has learned from Belarusian MAZ press service.
Traditionally, three crews will represent Belarus at Dakar. The team line-up underwent no changes. Sergey Vyazovich will go along with navigator Pavel Garanin and mechanic Andrey Zhigulin. Pilot Alexey Vishnevsky will compete together with navigator Maxim Novikov and mechanic Andrey Neverovich. The third crew comprises of pilot Alexander Vasilevsky, navigator Dmitry Vikhrenko and mechanic Anton Zaporoschenko.
Last year, MAZ-SPORTavto team achieved its best ever result finishing the rally in second (the crew of Sergey Vyazovich).
“Competition will be tough. Everyone will be contending for the prize places. MAZ-SPORTavto team is among the favorites and will be fighting for the top spots like in previous years. The pilots and vehicles are ready for any extreme conditions, although we must admit that anything can happen during Dakar and we cannot foresee every eventuality, ” team leader Sergey Vyazovich said.
Dakar 2019 will start in the Peruvian capital on 6 January and finish in Lima as well a few days later. The rally will span about 5,000km and will go through huge dunes and other sand obstacles. Yet, there will be no high mountains on the route this year.
