Press releases

MINSK, 8 January (BelTA) – Belarus’ MAZ-SPORTavto crews successfully cleared the fourth stage of the 2015 Dakar Rally in 12th, 13th, and 30th places in the T4 truck class, BelTA has learned.

Out of the three Belarusian crews in the truck class, Sergei Vyazovich’s crew (race number 510) performed the best finishing in 12th place covering the 174km special stage in 2h41m51s. The Belarusians crossed the finishing line 34m57s behind the stage winner, Eduard Nikolaev's crew (KAMAZ-Master, Russia). The Belarusian crew led by Alexander Vasilevsky (race number 535) came in 13th, 36m25s off the leader’s pace. MAZ's third entry, Vladimir Vasilevsky's crew (race number 560), ended the fourth stage in 30th place, 2h24m38s off the pace.

KAMAZ crew of Airat Mardeev leads in the overall standings with 10h39m26s after the triumph on the third competition day. Sergei Vyazovich’s crew now is in 7th position losing 37m39s to the leader. After the fourth stage, the Belarusian crew led by Alexander Vasilevsky sits 18th in the Dakar Rally overall standings, and Vladimir Vasilevsky's crew is 35th.

Spain's Joan Barreda Bort (Honda) took the stage win in the motorcycle category. Polish rider Rafal Sonik (Yamaha) assumed the lead in the quad race, and Qatar's Nasser Al Attiyah (MINI) became a front-runner in the car category.

The fifth stage (697km) of the 2015 Dakar Rally will take drivers from Copiapo, Chile, to Antofagasta, Chile. Some 8,200km will be covered by trucks and over 9,000km by bikes, quads, and cars during the 13 stages of the rally that runs through the territory of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.