KrAZ and women drivers brave Sahara

“AvtoKrAZ” Holding Company will provide the KrAZ-5322BE-086-Д10 truck for the participation in an annual rally-raid which will be held from March 14 till 28, 2009, in the Moroccan Sahara desert.

On the 23 December, 2008, “AvtoKrAZ” Holding Company and National Automobile League “Zolote kermo” signed formal agreement on joint participation in women-only rally “Rally Aicha des Gazelles” and accepted plan on truck preparation and team training.

“Rally Aicha des Gazelles” is the only in the world women’s orienteering competition on vehicles, motorbikes, quad bikes, trucks. This competition has been running since 1990 under the auspices of Mohammed IV, King of Morocco.

This race is also known as “female Dakar”: the participants will cover 2 500 km on sand dunes in Sahara desert in Morocco within 14 days.

Unlike “male Dakar” the participants of “Rally Aicha des Gazelles” orientate themselves by means of compass and topographic map: use of global positioning system and technical assistance are strictly forbidden. Speed is not the be-all of this competition. The key is skill in off-the-road driving.

The participant who will cover less distance and come to control point without penalty points will be named winner.

For the first time ever, among hundreds of teams from 40 countries of the world, courageous women drivers from Ukraine – Irina Kravets, first pilot, and Talina Dedgirolamo, navigator, on the KrAZ-5322BE-086-Д10 4x4 all - terrain vehicle – will brave desert at the “Rally Aicha des Gazelles”.

Obstacles are nothing for the KrAZ-5322BE-086-Д10 truck, but the race in desert is first severe test for it. Unsuccessful attempt to take part in Dakar rally in 2008, when organizers canceled the competition because of act of terrorism, did not give an opportunity to show its characteristics.

Irirna Kravets and Talina Dedgirolamo, multiple prize-winners of Ukrainian and international rallies, and the leader of the team, Roman Shchipkov, master of sport, champion of Ukraine, Head of National Automobile League “Zolote kermo”, are confident this truck will go through all trials and get the victory.

The KrAZ-5322BE-086-Д10 truck is equipped with power pack consisting of YaMZ-238ДЕ 330 h.p. production engine, 9JS150OTAB 9-speed heavy duty gearbox and new Sachs MFZ-430 single-disc clutch.

In order to overcome successfully 1000 km long rally sections the all-terrain vehicle is provided with three standard fuel tanks with total capacity of 750 l, which is sufficient to cover required distance. Four tubular bows are mounted in the truck body to assure body stiffness in case of rollover. Six spare wheels are arranged along body sides. Rear double bow is provided with jib-crane consisting of cable winch to lift and lower spare wheels during replacement.