Both KAMAZ-master and PETRONAS Team De Rooy IVECO will once again compete on standard Goodyear OFFROAD Tyres after the tyre manufacturer renewed both team partnerships in time for the DAKAR challenge, which takes place across the Arabian Desert from 1-14th January 2022.
Goodyear Sees Dakar Challenge as an Integral Event to Test Tyres on the Track and in Daily Operations
With KAMAZ-master and PETRONAS Team De Rooy IVECO stepping out with Goodyear OFFROAD standard tyres, Dakar 2022 is set to be another exhilarating competition. KAMAZ-master won the hotly contested trucks race earlier this year, something the team will hope to repeat in this edition. Goodyear will also see this event as a core opportunity to test its production technologies to master the most extreme driving environments expected in the Arabian Desert.
KAMAZ plans to bring four works entries to the start line at Ha’il with a quartet of top drivers. Defending winner Dmitry Sotnikov, five-time winner Eduard Nikolaev, double winner Andrey Karginov and runner-up the last two years Anton Shibalov will be assisted by expert navigators and mechanics.
The factory-operated KAMAZ-master sports trucks for this edition will see Goodyear tyres for the new KAMAZ-435091 model and two returning KAMAZ-43509s representing the team’s formidable line-up for its title defence.
Goodyear has also confirmed that its long-standing partnership with the PETRONAS Team De Rooy IVECO team has been renewed for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 Dakar competitions. So, bringing a unique mix of youth and experience to the event, the 2016 winning squad is aiming to compete at the sharp end of the field.
Hans Stacey, one of Dakar’s most experienced and successful drivers, will be the captain for one of two ‘Green Team’ entries for PETRONAS Team De Rooy IVECO.
What to Expect from the 2022 Dakar Edition
At the end of November, the Dakar trucks departed Marseille via shipping freight to Jeddah, where they will undergo preparations before scrutineering for the rally on December 29-31.
With a highly capable and robust OFFROAD tyre, the crews from KAMAZ-master and De Rooy will be able to maximise the performance of their vehicles through the scorching desert. In terms of conditions, the teams can expect vertigo-inducing sand dunes and dusty tracks that make up the 8,000 kilometre+ Dakar course comprising about 4,300 kilometres in specialised stages.
Maciej Szymanski, Director of Marketing for Commercial Business Europe at Goodyear, said: “All teams have to compete on standard tyres as per ASO. The Goodyear OFFROAD range is used in construction, military and emergency applications. Its tread rubber design resists cutting and chunking in harsh off-road operations, which at the same time is capable of cool running in high temperatures. With its excellent traction on all terrains, it is a perfect companion to conquer the challenging Dakar route full of unexpected events. It’s an honour to be selected as an exclusive tyre partner by two legendary teams. We definitely share their passion to drive results each day, and we look forward to supporting these 8 trucks, while the teams give their best to be on the podium.”
While the Dakar field runs through Saudi Arabia in January, Goodyear tyres will be ready to burn rubber for the uniquely challenging and competitive event.
