Kazakhstan's crew comes first among T2 cars Africa Eco Race-2015 8th stage

A crew from Kazakhstan – Marat Abykayev and Andrey Chipenko on Nissan Patrol – has finished the eighth stage of the Africe Eco Race-2015 first in their T2 group, Tengrinews reports citing Vesti.kz.

The eighth stage ended yesterday, January 7. The participants had to drive 398 km from Azougui to Atar in Mauritania, of which 358 km were special sections.

Route layout graph courtesy of the official website.

The only Kazakhstan’s crew in T2 group (all-terrain vehicles with small difference from production models) Marat Abykayev and Andrey Chipenko (#217, Nissan Patrol) from Off Road Kazakhstan team finished the stage first among T2 cars and 18th in the general standings (comprising the results of all the stages). Their time was 8 hours 33 minutes and 35 seconds, which was 3 hours 25 minutes and 45 seconds more than the winning time of the stage that belonged to the French crew - Jean Antoine Sabatier and Jean-luc Rojat (#201, BUGGA ONE).

The French crew was also first in the overall standings and in their T1 group (significantly modified all-terrain vehicles) .

Another Kazakhstan’s crew from Off Road Kazakhstan team – Andrey Cherednikov and Dmitriy Tsyro (#217, Hummer H3) - was 10th in their T1 group at the 8th stage and was 10th in the overall of all eight stages. The Kazakh racers covered the distance in 8 hours and 56 minutes.

The Kazakhstani crew representing Mobilex Racing Team – Kanat Shagirov and Alexander Moroz (#215, Toyota Hilux Overdrive) – came fourth at the eighth stage and held the 6th position in the general standings.

Yuriy Sazonov and Arslan Sakhimov (#216, Hummer H3) who also represent Mobilex Racing Team finished the stage fifth among the crews in T1 group and 5th in the overall rankings.

Kazakhstan’s biker Vadim Pritulyak (#104, KTM 500) was first in his +450 group at the 8th stage and got the 9th line in the overall standings.

Today, January 8, the participants of the rally marathon have to overcome the 9th stage that comprises a 390 km route from Azougui to Akjoujt, of which 366 km will be special sections.

The Africa Eco Race-2015 will finish on January 11 at Lake Retba in Dakar (Senegal).

Andrey Chipenko and Marat Abykayev. Photo courtesy of Off Road Kazakhstan team.

Andrey Cherednikov (in blue-yellow uniform) and Dmitriy Tsyro (in black-white). Photo courtesy of the official website.

Off-road vehicle of Yuriy Sazonov and Arslan Sakhimov. Photo courtesy of the official website.

Off-road vehicle of Kanat Shagirov and Alexander Moroz. Photo courtesy of the official website.

By Assel Satubaldina