Press releases

MINSK, 12 January (BelTA) - Sergei Vyazovich’s crew of Belarus’ MAZ-SPORTavto team made it to the top 10 at Stage 6 of the 2018 Dakar Rally and remains third overall in the truck category, BelTA has learned.

Stage 6 (Arequipa-La Paz) was one of the most comfortable during the 2018 Dakar edition so far, the Belarusian team noted. No serious accidents occurred during the race, so the competitors focused more on the navigation. This time, Federico Villagra of Argentina was the pace-setter in the truck category, clocking 3:22:23. Maz-SPORTavto team leader Sergei Vyazovich came in seventh, six minutes behind the leader. Another Belarusian Aleksei Vishnevsky finished 12th. His partner Alexander Vasilevsky was 22nd.

Eduard Nikolaev (KamAZ) remains first in the general classification. His closest rival is Federico Villagra (52 minutes back). Sergei Vyazovich is third (2:29:42 behind the leader).

The Dakar participants will enjoy a well-deserved rest day in La Paz and will get a chance to make preparations for Stage 7. The next stage will comprise a special 368km section to finish in the town of Uyuni. The racers know the route well but once they reach the barracks, they will be deprived of their assistance teams at this marathon stage.

The 2018 Dakar edition is the seventh for the Belarusian team. The owner of MAZ-SPORTavto is Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ trademark), the technical partner is velcom. The 2018 Dakar Rally is running through Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina to wrap up in Cordoba, Argentina on 20 January. The race features 3,500 kilometers of high-speed sections, with most of the route running in the highlands.