MAZ-SPORTauto Team back to Belarus from Dakar 2013

         The Belarusian MAZ-SPORTauto Team, which two truck crews successfully made it to the finish line at Dakar 2013, returned to Belarus. Dakar-2013 was held from 5 to 20 January and spanned 8,000km across three South American countries: Peru, Argentina and Chile. The first vehicle crew of Alexander Vasilevsky, Valery Kozlovsky and Anton Zaporoshchenko placed 21st in the overall standings. The second Belarusian crew with pilot Sergei Vyazovich, co-pilot Pavel Garanin and mechanic Dmitry Zaporoshchenko finished 27th in the general classification of 60 trucks that made it to the finish line.
       Commenting on the race, MAZ-SPORTauto Team captain Valery Kozlovsky, who was also the co-pilot on the first crew, said that this time, as compared to Dakar-2012, there was no fear of the unknown. "We are planning to compete in Dakar 2014 and now we know on which things we need to focus and work harder. The work on the third race truck has already started,” said Valery Kozlovsky.
        Dakar is an annual transcontinental rally raid held since 1978. The race traditionally takes its start in Paris and finishes in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. MAZ-SPORTauto Team debuted in the rally in 2012. Back then the crew led by pilot Alexander Vasilevsky placed 31st in the general truck classification.