The kamaz-master team became the first in truck races during the dakar rally. Kamaz master from what
At an impromptu open-air exhibition, they presented from the very first to the most modern machine. The differences are noticeable even visually. Today it is different speeds, different suspensions and completely different movement on uneven terrain.
1. KAMAZ-4310S
KAMAZ-4310 Since 1988 release. It was with these cars, which debuted at the Polish Jelch Rally, that the team's sports epic began.
“There was a time when the tankers were jealous,” says Aydar Belyaev, deputy team leader, describing the Spartan conditions in the cockpit. The excursion began with an inspection of the KAMAZ-4310S produced in 1988. It was with these cars, which debuted at the Polish Jelch Rally, that the team's sports epic began. Two serial 6x6 trucks were prepared for the competition. In the experimental workshop of the STC "KAMAZ" they were equipped with safety cages and the suspension was modified, adapting it to jumping. The engine, by increasing the fuel supply and tuning the turbocharger, was boosted to 290 liters. with. The team went to the competition in two crews led by Vladimir Goltsov and Ravil Nurgaliev. The debut was successful: the crews took 2nd and 4th places.
2. KAMAZ-49251
KAMAZ-49251 ensured the team's first triumph at Dakar in 1996.
In the early 1990s, the team did not build special cars for rallies, they took serial samples from the assembly line and brought them to the conditions required for participation in the competition. Later it became clear that with this approach, high results could not be shown. In 1993, cooperation with the "Master" association began, which undertook the costs of creating a completely new sports truck. It was then that the modern name of the team appeared, which survived even after the sponsorship contract expired in 1998. In 1994, a racing KAMAZ-49251 with a 4x4 wheel arrangement was created, which received a forced up to 500 hp. with. engine KAMAZ-7482. On this machine, the mid-engine layout was tested for the first time: the transfer of the power unit inside the base provided a better weight distribution along the axes, which had a positive effect on handling. In January 1996 it was this car, driven by the crew of V. Moskovskikh - A. Kuzmin - N. Bagavetdinov, which ensured the first triumph at the Dakar for the KAMAZ-master team.
3. KAMAZ-4911
The next milestone in the history of KAMAZ sports cars was the beginning of the 2000s. By this time, the Fédération Internationale de Fédération Internationale had banned the mid-engine layout and imposed a condition that a competing car must be a production car. In 2002, KAMAZ produced a car with the index "4911", which had no equal in cross-country ability, maneuverability and dynamics. This all-wheel drive truck was equipped with a YaMZ-7E846.10 turbodiesel with a capacity of 730 hp. with. To pass the FIA homologation, a batch of 15 of these trucks was released, capable of speeds up to 180 km / h. For its unique technical and operational qualities, it was named "the flying truck". Indeed, in the hands of experienced pilots of the KAMAZ-master team, this car easily lifted off the ground at speed, pushing off from natural jumps. In the process of improving the "combat" truck, it was necessary to take into account the limitations of the technical regulations, but the work on fine-tuning did not stop. So, in the process of preparing for the "Dakar-2004", the curb weight of the car was reduced by almost half - to 9400 kg.
4. KAMAZ-4326
In 2007, the organizers of the Lisbon - Dakar rally again changed the technical requirements for the trucks participating in the race, significantly softening them. Participants in this class were again allowed to create exclusively sports cars that do not have one hundred percent link to conventional serial trucks. In particular, move the engine a certain distance from the cab. Blue Armada took advantage of this by improving the vehicle's weight distribution and maneuverability, as well as increasing the ride comfort. At the end of 2007, the KAMAZ-4326 was released. At least the fact that the new KAMAZ combat truck was the first to undergo homologation in its class testifies to the conscientiousness of the approach to the creation of the vehicle. In 2011, a modified KAMAZ-43269 was created on the basis of this truck. It was with this car that Vladimir Chagin won the team's 10th victory at the Dakar.
The team continues to use various modifications of the well-proven KAMAZ-4326 vehicle to participate in competitions, constantly modernizing it. In 2013, several technical innovations were introduced and mastered on all machines at once. For example, all cars received an advanced electronic braking system. A racing car's brakes are required to react quickly, and a more powerful compressor is installed with the tire inflation system in mind. In particular, WABCO components are used. “We work in partnership with many major manufacturers of auto components,” says Aydar Belyaev. “Testing in race conditions is a good recommendation for getting onto the main conveyor of KAMAZ.”
In 2014, the organizers of the Dakar seriously tightened the requirements for engine smoke. In addition, since 2016, the volume of the trucks' engines has been limited to 16.5 liters. Therefore, in 2014, the team started using Liebherr motors.
5. KAMAZ-43509K
KAMAZ-43509K can participate in all races, except for the Dakar.
In 2015, the team presented a completely new development - a KAMAZ-43509K bonnet truck. Despite the external resemblance to the traditional cabover boots of the team, a number of progressive technical solutions were applied here and a 13-liter DCEC ISZ-13 diesel engine manufactured by the Dongfeng Cummins joint venture was used. The bonnet cab is from Mercedes-Benz Zetros. The car passed the first exam with flying colors: Dmitry Sotnikov's crew was the first at the finish of the Silk Way Rally 2017. KAMAZ-43509K can participate in all races, except for the Dakar, for which homologation has yet to be issued. The point is that the brand of a sports truck is determined by the cab.
6. KAMAZ-43508
Only KAMAZ-43508 trucks will take part in the Dakar-2019 race.
In May 2018, a completely new sports KAMAZ was released, which received the index 43508. In the new truck, as in the bonnet, the inline six-cylinder DCEC ISZ-13 engine was used. Outwardly, the novelty differs from its older brothers in a more aggressive design, chopped and wedge-shaped shapes. In addition, in honor of the 30th anniversary of KAMAZ-master, the truck is presented in a new livery, designed to emphasize the manufacturability of the new sports line and to indicate the development in the trend of modern technologies.
The team will send only KAMAZ-43508 trucks to the Dakar-2019 race, Vladimir Chagin, the head of KAMAZ-master, told a press conference in Naberezhnye Chelny. Four crews were formed to participate in the prestigious rally: pilot Eduard Nikolaev, navigator Yevgeny Yakovlev, mechanic Vladimir Rybakov; pilot Ayrat Mardeev, navigator Dmitry Svistunov, mechanic Akhmet Galyautdinov; pilot Dmitry Sotnikov, navigator Dmitry Nikitin, mechanic Ilnur Mustafin; pilot Andrey Karginov, navigator Andrey Mokeev, mechanic Igor Leonov. We wish them success!
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Sergey Bochkarev, Lead Engineer, NP KAMAZ-Motorsport Air in a sports truck is the main energy source. It is used not only to drive brake systems, clutch, but also to inflate tires. Pneumatics works in the gearbox and transfer case shifting mechanism. Failure of any of the listed functionalities leads to a loss of time at the special stage and even the car dropping off the track. Therefore, we use reliable components from the world's leading manufacturers. WABCO supplies us with a compressor with a capacity of up to 1000 l / min. A two-column dryer works in tandem with it. Note that all these units are serial. In addition, we use solenoid valves for the tire inflation system. And to connect the components of the pneumatic system, we use branded plastic tubes of different colors in order to visually separate them along the contours. By the way, the main conveyor of KAMAZ also became interested in such a solution using our example. |
It's like Groundhog Day! Again Naberezhnye Chelny and the KamAZ-master team's training ground in Tarlovka. Again I sit with my helmet on in the co-driver's seat, tied tight with 5-point harnesses in a racing bucket seat. Dmitry Sotnikov, the winner in the truck category of the Silk Way Rally-2013 rally, is in the driver's place again, who will be lucky again, because the press must be returned alive from the rides.
Only under us this time not "KamAZ-4326" with the Russian bit-fuel engine TMZ-7E846.10 (V8, 18.5 liters, 950 "forces" and 3600 Nm), but its brother with a Liebherr diesel engine. And we start on the track last, which in front of us has already been heavily "plowed". And I still naively think that I know what to expect now ...
The new bonnet is based on the proven chassis from the sports cabover "KamAZ-4326" with the cab from the Mercedes-Benz Zetros all-wheel drive truck. For access to the diesel engine, the cab itself can be folded forward, as well as the hood.
In general, I will not repeat past depictions and will be brief. This time, a single circle around the polygon seemed like an eternity to me, and it was somehow awkward to ask for mercy. As a result, from the fierce shaking trying to rip your head off, in less than 20 minutes I earned a stretch in the muscles of my neck and back, plus I distinctly "shook off my brains." Hands and feet from the need to constantly "wedge" then also ached as if I had unloaded the car with cement alone.
And this, let me remind you, in a gentle mode and on a relatively soft sandy track. An unprepared ordinary person is unlikely to withstand even an hour of such torture without consequences. The racers, on the other hand, ride the Dakar in this mode for two weeks, plus the heat, the intensity of the struggle, and the shaking and pounding is even angrier. And this is only the first race of the new sports season! No, they are definitely all crazy there!
The team has been experimenting with Webasto rooftop electric air conditioners for years. But in extreme heat (in the race it can even reach 55 degrees) and it is already not enough: thermal insulation of the cab itself is needed, which is heated from above by the sun, and from below, a hot engine "roasts". But it is expensive and overweight. And even an electrically driven "condo" noticeably takes away engine power, which is especially felt on the bonnet with its "subcompact" diesel engine.
When, finally, emotions and internal organs have subsided, we go on an excursion to the team's own scientific and technical center. All the same, the Total company (the supplier of lubricants, which this year became the new technical partner of "KamAZ-master") brought us to visit on time! After all, when else will you see the "combat" Kama trucks, disassembled to the frame ?! But first of all I am in a hurry to the main novelty of the team in recent years - the first racing KamAZ with a hood. But why is work going on around his half-disassembled "noseless" brothers, and he is lonely standing in a corner fully assembled?
Alas, the bonnet does not go to the Dakar-2017, all forces are thrown into the preparation of cabover vehicles. In the spring of this year, the bonneted truck has already made its debut at the "Kagan's Gold" rally. However, it is not yet ready for the Dakar and Africa Eco Race marathons and needs fine-tuning.
In the scientific and technical center of the KamAZ-master team there is a closed production cycle, starting from the manufacture of reinforced frames and ending with its own painting chamber.
But KAMAZ employees have no doubts about the potential of the bonnet layout. After all, there are more and more bonnet sports trucks at the Dakar. It all started back in the 80s, with the Mercedes-Benz Unimog. And the revival of interest in such an arrangement has already occurred in our century. In 2012, Ales Loprais's Tatra Jamal and Gerard De Rooy's Iveco Powerstar Torpedo trucks took part in the Dakar. In 2015, 4 such trucks were announced for the race, and their number continues to grow.
This is because the bonnet rally-raid truck has a number of advantages. Offsetting the cab by 1.5 meters back seriously changes the weight distribution of the truck, when the load on the rear axle is up to 55%. This relieves the load on the front axle, makes it easier to ride on sand, makes the truck more maneuverable, reduces understeer, and such a car steers better. And lands after jumping, by the way, too: there is less risk of rolling forward through the cockpit.
The design of the racing cab is different from the serial one. In a "combat" truck, it is initially built around a powerful roll cage, which is sheathed with aluminum rather than steel panels. Together with the crew, the cabin weighs about 800 kg.
But the main thing is that such a layout spares people! In a cabover truck, the crew sits, as they say, "on the wheel", and it is very difficult to describe in decent words what he experiences off-road. And in the bonnet, the riders sit closer to the center of the wheelbase, where the shock loads are much less. There are more chances to finish the day without compression injuries of the spine, which is the same routine for KAMAZ racers as for us, "civilians", a common cold ...
Although there are also enough difficulties with the bonnet layout. Under the rearward-shifted cockpit, the wide V8 diesels, on which the Chelny team is chasing, no longer fit - only an in-line engine fits in there. And the cooling system had to be redone to accommodate the charge air coolers.
Without a body, the anatomy of a racing truck is at a glance. A 1000-liter fuel tank is visible at the stern, in front of it is a box with a tool and a minimum set of spare parts. The barrels on the frame tubes are pneumatic receivers. They were pushed there by spare wheels, which now hang on the side of the frame - this makes them easier to remove. If necessary, the spare wheels are outweighed at the stern, because their location also affects the weight distribution and handling.
Another difficulty with the KAMAZ bonnet is the lack of a suitable engine. The head plant "KamAZ" together with Liebherr is only finishing its own in-line "six" so far. We still have to wait for its serial production, then prepare it for racing conditions ... And a sports truck has to be tested and put up for races. Therefore, as a temporary half-measure, the residents of Chelny agreed with the Czech sports team Buggyra Racing to rent a sports inline 6-cylinder diesel engine Gyrtech Race Power prepared by it. It is made on the basis of the serial American Caterpillar C13 engine, has a volume of 12.5 liters and for its Tatra Phoenix rally trucks the Buggyra team claims the output of this engine is 950 hp. and 4200 Nm.
However, under the contract with Buggyra, the KamAZ-master team does not even have the right to reprogram the control unit of a Czech diesel engine, not to mention more serious independent alterations! It turns out that there seems to be an engine, but due to the peculiarities of the lease, KAMAZ employees are tied hand and foot in the matter of fine-tuning this engine for a new truck. You need "your" engine, or more rights for fine-tuning.
The serial Liebherr D9508 A7 biturbo diesel is used in road construction equipment and develops up to 687 hp in the factory version. and a torque of 3125 Nm. After improvements in the KamaAZ-master team - already 980 hp. and 4000 Nm. By the way, the serial motor weighs a lot: "dry" weight - 1600 kg.
Kamaz workers are actively looking for an alternative to the Czech motor. And we dare to assume that such a replacement potentially already exists! This is YaMZ-780 - the latest in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine with a volume of 12.4 liters. It was developed at the Yaroslavl Motor Plant and presented at the Army-2016 forum. It is expected to be put on the conveyor in 2018, but the military will be the first to receive it - for installation on the new armored platforms Boomerang (wheeled) and Kurganets-25 (tracked).
The new diesel has an original cylinder block, cylinder head and crankshaft, 2-stage turbocharging, 4 valves per cylinder and common-rail fuel injection. "Dry" weight - 1050 kg. The unit presented at the forum was declared a return of 750 hp. and 2550 Nm of torque. But the potential of the new engine, according to the specialized media, is even higher - up to 1000 hp. and 3700 Nm! Civilian versions of this diesel engine will be a little more modest and will cover the "plug" of 400-600 hp.
Pneumatic drum brakes are also available on serial KamAZ trucks. But in a racing truck, instead of the usual linings, more heat-resistant imported disc brake pads are welded onto the site. And then a special machine (pictured) grinds these pads to fit the size of the brake drum. The pneumatic brake system is supplied by Wabco. The drive axles are bought from the Finnish company Sisu - they are lighter than the previous Russian ones, assembled from KAMAZ and Krazov parts.
If our assumptions turn out to be correct and a new in-line diesel engine YaMZ will one day appear on a bonneted KAMAZ car, then this will not be surprising. Considering how many Dakars and other races the KAMAZ team won on the current Yaroslavl diesel V8s (which, by the way, also have military roots), fitting the new YaMZ engine onto a sports truck looks quite logical. Plus, the off-road rally raids are also an excellent testing ground for the new engine.
The forthcoming change in the technical regulations of the Dakar marathon itself spurs the team to use less displacement engines. So, the permissible volume of motors for sports trucks will soon be cut to 13 liters (now the limit is no more than 16.5 liters).
Estimate the thickness of the reinforced axle shafts of the front driving axle! Other details don't belong here. After all, the most powerful engine of the serial "KamAZ" today produces 428 hp. and 2100 Nm of torque, and the racing diesel is already under a thousand "horses" and 4000 Nm of thrust, which will break the serial axle shaft like a match.
And what about the preparation of cabover boots? The teams in the technical center do not stop "finishing" them all year round. For Dakar-2017, for example, we were actively working on weight distribution (it affects handling) and finalizing the brakes - the winding and high-mountain routes of the legendary marathons are demanding for both the first and the second. By the way, for high-mountain special stages with long descents on all "combat" trucks going to the "Dakar", a transmission hydraulic intarder brake has been introduced. It drastically reduces the load on the stock brakes and the risk of overheating just a step away from the abyss.
The Liebherr D9508 diesel engines (V8, volume 16.2 liters) produced in Switzerland, which the team has been installing on trucks for the Dakar since 2013, were also prepared for the highlands all year round and were driven to trials in the foothills of Almaty. This unit is generally praised by the team, but there are some nuances. Compared to the "analog" YaMZ engines, the imported electronically controlled motor is already more sensitive to fuel quality, and in terms of weight and appetite (up to 170-200 l / 100 km in mountains and sands!) Is similar to Russian engines.
- This is what the mechanic's place looks like. To the right of the main display is the Tvertrip navigational trip computer, entirely developed in Russia.
- The power frame of the cockpit is literally hung with equipment! Above the mechanic - crew intercom control panels, drinking water pipes, backup fans, a GPS speedometer, a video camera recording what is happening in the cockpit, a monitor from cameras in the back ... To the right of the frame tube is a corrugated air conditioner duct.
- Instead of the former scattering of instrument scales and warning lamps, there is a display that gives out speed, boost and oil pressure, oil and antifreeze temperature, engine speed. Some of the buttons are placed on the steering wheel, and the anti-roll bars are deactivated by large paddle shifters, which increases the suspension travel. On the right panel there are toggle switches for pneumatic locks of the interaxle and cross-axle differentials, buttons for starting the engine, "mass" and wheel pumping control.
The team also has to work on the reliability of individual components and assemblies. For example, on this year's Dakar, Andrey Karginov's crew lost a lot of time during the assault on a mountain ford, when the control unit and contacts were flooded with water, after which the engine simply stalled. Until they found the reason, while they blew it dry ...
But the "electronic" motor allows you to implement cruise control and maximum speed limiter. In the Dakar truck category, the speed is limited to 140 km / h. And no less rigidly the organizers monitor the observance of the speed limit on the tracks between the special stages. In this situation, the cruise control and the limiter allow you to accurately maintain the set speed.
The team has an excellent gym, because without physical training there is nothing to do in marathons. Before the race, the athletes hardly get out of the "rocking chair". The plan for December is 3 weeks of constant training. There is also a small pool, sauna and even a cryo chamber! Plus oxygen apparatus simulating the rarefied mountain air. Every day of preparation, the "altitude" in the devices rises, eventually reaching almost 4000 m.
The residents of Chelny buy the Liebherr D9508 motors themselves in full serial form and then prepare them for the race on their own. Diesels are completely sorted out, simultaneously replacing or modifying a lot of parts. Other fuel pumps and turbochargers are selected, both imported and Russian. For example, in addition to turbines from Holset, BorgWarner or Schwitzer, the team is also experimenting with superchargers from Turbotekhnika from Protvino near Moscow. The program for controlling the Swiss engine is also Russian: it is written by specialists from the St. Petersburg firm "Abit". The nameplate "Made in Switzerland" is just right for sculpting the nameplate "Modified in Russia"!
When you read these lines, four sports "KamAZ" will already be sailing on a ferry across the Atlantic from Le Havre, France to South America. There, on January 2, in Paraguayan Asuncion, the Dakar-2017 with a length of 8,800 km starts, which will pass through the territory of Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina, and on January 14 it will finish in Buenos Aires.
A new "motorhome" will also go to Dakar-2017 with the team. There is a kitchen, a shower (the most valuable thing in a bivouac!), A refrigerator and three separate 4-bed cabins. The chassis is from Sisu Polar with a cab and diesel from Mercedes-Benz Actros. Prior to this, the team built "mobile homes" on 3-axle all-wheel drive KAMAZ chassis with in-line American "sixes" Cummins with a return of 700 hp.
And on December 20, two more racing "KamAZ" (one of them - gas-diesel, with a Tutaev engine) will go on their own to Monaco. There, on December 31, the Africa Eco Race marathon starts, which finishes on January 14 in the Senegal capital Dakar, having covered 6,500 km along the old African route of the Dakar rally through Morocco and Mauritania.
As a parting word to the race, of course, they want to win. On my own behalf, remembering what I have experienced in my own skin, I would like to wish the crews to return alive and, if possible, healthy. As the history of such super marathons shows, this is also a victory ...
Raise your hand and quickly and quickly shake your brush - this is how my head shook when they rolled me in a Dakar truck near Naberezhnye Chelny! Shortly before the Silk Way rally-raid, I visited the KAMAZ-master team and found out what technical innovations are being prepared there.
KAMAZ employees are not lucky with a racing bonnet! It was built at the end of 2015, clearly looking at competitors with bonnet trucks IVECO Powerstar and Renault Sherpa. The Chelnin car was equipped with a cab and empennage from the Mercedes Zetros model, and the Gyrtech 12.5 engine (highly tuned by Caterpillar) was rented from the Czech Buggyra studio - since the German Liebherr, which is installed on other racing KAMAZ vehicles, did not fit under the hood.
Last year, the car took part in a couple of Russian rally-raids, but did not go to Dakar-2017. Alas, they did not manage to prepare the car for the “Silk Way - 2017” either, although they were actively engaged in it before the race.
Bonneted "KAMAZetros" in the process of alteration
For example, in connection with weight distribution: if earlier KAMAZ employees achieved a weight distribution of "50 to 50", then according to the new Dakar regulations, at least 4.6 tons should fall on the front axle (with the previous total weight of 8.5 tons). They say that this decision was promoted by the Dutch team Mammoet Rallysport with a Renault Sherpa truck - as a result, KAMAZ had to change the location of reserves, fuel tanks, etc.
Pipes of the protective frame, air ducts, wires - the interior of "combat" trucks is ascetic. But the fit is very comfortable!
Instead of the Gyrtech engine, Cummins was installed on the bonnet - thanks to KAMAZ. By the way, in the future, Liebherr engines on cabover KAMAZs are also going to be replaced with Cummins: from 2019, the working volume of engines at Dakar should not exceed 13 liters (it seems that the organizers also introduced this item into the regulations in order to put sticks in the wheels of KAMAZ workers).
Liebherr V-engines (pictured), which are now equipped with racing KAMAZ trucks, will be replaced by in-line Cummins
And if for Liebherr engines this volume is 16.5 liters, and the power is 920 hp, then in the racing version of Cummins they remove even more - exactly 1050-1100 hp. from 12.99 l. That's just how reliable the engine will be with such a boost and less displacement?
Be that as it may, one car with a Cummins engine has already gone to the Silk Way, while another truck, with Liebherr, is equipped with an automatic ZF gearbox. The team experimented with the "automatic" of this brand back in 2000: Vladimir Chagin passed the Dakar with him, won - but the experience was considered unsuccessful. The oil in the box was so hot that it spilled out at the stops! However, over the past years, technologies have advanced, and if the "machine" shows itself well on the "Silk Road", then in the future it may become the main one for combat KAMAZ vehicles. As the advantages of such a transmission, athletes say that there is no break in the power flow during switching and a decrease in the physical load on the pilots. But there is also a disadvantage: with this transmission, the car slows down the engine worse. By the way, the ranges here can also be switched manually: KAMAZ employees chose between the joystick and the paddles under the steering wheel, but still settled on the first option.
The team's four-axle vehicle is under construction: the cryo chamber for wellness procedures is visible on the right.
There are updates among the support machines. If a year ago the team presented a three-axle vehicle on a Sisu chassis, now, in addition to it, a four-axle vehicle on a KAMAZ chassis with a Mercedes Axor cab has appeared. He is carrying a cryo chamber for athletes, the temperature in which drops to minus 150 ° C. At first glance - horror, but the device cools only the surface layers of human skin, and the procedure itself lasts no more than three minutes. The pilots like the cryochamber: they say it invigorates as good as a few cups of coffee.
Historical vehicle of the team - KAMAZ-49252 (1994-2003)
Next year, the team will be celebrating their 30th anniversary - and plans to open an exposition where they will present trucks from past years. These are, for example, the humped KAMAZ-49252 (the first truly prepared racing car of the collective with a mid-engined layout and suspension struts from the BMP) and the KAMAZ-4326 VK, on which Chagin won his last victory at the Dakar.
Still, it’s interesting: will the KAMAZ team manage to bring the bonnet to mind for the Dakar-2018? And then the competitors, including Gerard de Roy and Alyos Loprais, have been successfully dissecting them for many years now.
Racing is a very exciting competition. And the rally with the participation of trucks is an event that must be watched at least once in a lifetime. The stages are considered the most prestigious of such a world marathon. Many year after year, the amazing Russian "car" amazes - let's get to know him better!
KamAZ "flying"
Model 4911 Extreme is the legendary KamAZ that participates in the Paris-Dakar rally, as well as in the Silk Way. This "graduate" of the Kama Automobile Plant located in Naberezhnye Chelny (Tatarstan) is not only a sports truck. It is designed to urgently deliver goods, following highways with an axle load of up to 78 kN, on dirt roads and rough terrain. The machine can be operated in various climatic zones at a temperature of +50 ... -30 ° C.
Why was KamAZ from "Dakar" nicknamed "flying" by the fans? The machine lifts off the ground with amazing ease and grace, like a giant bird. By changing the frame, the design of the springs, updating the fragrances, the truck lands softly on the wheels when jumping even from great heights without harming the crew.
The first flying truck race took place in 2003. Then, at the Telefonica-Dakar rally, the car took the first and third places. More than once KamAZ 4911 Extreme became the winner of "Cappadocia", "Khazar steppes", "Desert Challenge", championship and Cup of the Russian Federation. And after the Dakar races, the modernization and refinement of the car always followed.
The French company "Eligor" and the Russian plant "Electron" (Kazan) produce 1:43 scale models of this model of the sports KamAZ.
Dakarovsky KamAZ: technical characteristics
Let's present the technical characteristics of a heavy truck in the table.
| Options | |
| Full mass | 11.5 thousand kg |
| Curb weight | 10.5 thousand kg |
| Wheel formula | 4x4 |
| Wheelbase | 4.2 m |
| Front / rear track | 2.15 m |
| Length | 7.3 m |
| Height | 3.5 m |
| Width | 2.5 m |
| Engine | |
| Variety of model | YaMZ-7E846 |
| Type of | Diesel turbocharged engine |
| Power at 2500 rpm | 552 kW / 750 HP |
| Engine location | V-shaped |
| Number of cylinders | 8 |
| Engine volume | 17.2 l |
| Tires and Wheels | |
| Tire type | Pneumatic, using pressure regulation |
| Wheel type | Disk |
| Tire size | 425/85 R21 |
| Transmission | |
| Variety | 16-speed, mechanical |
| Cabin | |
| Type | Placed above the engine |
| General set of characteristics | |
| Highest speed | 165 km / h |
| Overall outer turning radius | 11.3 m |
| Climbing angle | Not less than 36% |
| Fuel consumption per 100 km under the condition of full load, following off-road with an average speed of 120 km / h | 100 l |
| Layout | Four-wheel drive, front-engine |
| Production years | from 2002 to the present |
| Class | T-4, sports truck |
After we have learned the technical characteristics of KamAZ from Dakar, we will get to know the team that drives this car in the rally.
The KamAZ-master team
KamAZ-master is a Russian team of race car drivers whose specialization is participation in rally-raids. Performs only on KamAZ trucks. A constant participant in the Dakar rally (the former name of the Paris-Dakar rally) - Russians have become its winners 14 times!
The team's birthday is July 17, 1988. Its composition can be said to be stellar - eight masters of sports of the international category, five winners of the World Cup. KamAZ-master is rightfully considered the strongest team in its class. As well as the excellent one from "Dakar".
The permanent leader and mentor of the team is Semyon Yakubov, an international master of sports. In the period 1996-2002. the pilot of "KamAZ-master" was the well-known Vladimir Chagin. He has seven victories in the Dakar races, two World Cups, and the title of "Best Russian Racer - 2003". The team's sponsor is also serious - VTB Bank.
Results of the rally "Dakar-2017"
The last Dakar took place in Bolivia. Many participants recognized it as the most difficult in the history of the rally. And the fault is landslides, rains, and sat down. But this did not prevent KamAZ from showing its best side in Dakar-2017. The KamAZ-master team returned from the competition, as in many previous years, a champion:
- The first among the sports trucks was the crew of E. Nikolaev, E. Yakovlev, V. Rybakov.
- KamAZ of D. Sotnikova, I. Leonova, R. Akhmadeeva came second to the finish line.
"Gold" and "Silver" - awards of KamAZ in the "Dakar" of the current year. Both the sports truck itself and its legendary team have reaffirmed the title of the best in the world rally-raid. However, racing is not the only path of the "flying" car. Among other things, it can be used for emergency delivery of goods - a car, jumping on springs, will sweep off-road like an arrow.
Thanks to the victories of KamAZ trucks at the Dakar, they have become recognizable in many countries of the world. In this article we will talk about the technical characteristics of sport KamAZ trucks for the Dakar rally.
What cars are participating in the Dakar?
Especially for the Dakar rally-raid, the trucks undergo brutal upgrades to withstand the tough races in the desert. The car must be strong, so as not to fall apart from the next jump from the springboard and hardy, in order to pass 500-700 kilometers a day on the sultry sands of the Dakar. All repairs are carried out on their own, because of this, the crew of the combat vehicle includes, in addition to the driver and navigator, a mechanic.Let's analyze the technical device of KamAZ "4911-EXTREME", which is a prototype of a racing car for "Dakar". The engine is a unit from the Yaroslavl Motor Plant, which is equipped with two turbochargers and a cooling system for the supplied air. The maximum power is 730 hp. and the "unreal" 2700 "newtons" of torque.
Those who think that such technical parameters of the engine are needed for maximum speed are mistaken. Indeed, in the Dakar rally-raids, the maximum speed of the participating cars is of little importance, and in some sections it is completely limited to 150 km / h. The most important thing is the torque needed to overcome quicksand so that the car does not get stuck in them.
Another interesting feature of KamAZ "4911-EXTREME" is that the body is rigidly attached to the frame, and the seats are rigidly attached to the body. There is little comfort from such a solution, but this feature helps the pilot to feel all the nuances of the race car's behavior and, accordingly, quickly respond to any changes. In addition, racing cars are distinguished by the presence of additional headlights, sports seats, and the presence of an electric winch.
Currently, the KamAZ-Master team uses the prototype KAMAZ 4326 (4x4), which participates in the Dakar rally-raids to this day.
The reason for the creation of KAMAZ 4326 was the next change in the requirements from the FIA, which made it possible to make a sports car based on serial components and assemblies. He has an eight-cylinder engine with an output of 830 hp. The engine has been moved 400 mm and the cab has been moved 200 mm towards the rear axle. This made it possible to improve the "weight distribution" of the truck.
By reducing the front overhang, the geometric cross-country ability has improved. The car's ride has become smoother due to the modernization of the suspension, in particular the use of new shock absorbers. The weight of the truck was reduced, although it was not possible to reach the permitted minimum limit of 8.5 tons.
In addition to the main racing KamAZ, there is a "technical", the purpose of which is to help the main car. There are various spare parts and spare sets of tires in its body. It is the "technicians" and mechanics who make the invisible front of the robots, thanks to which the KamAZ-Master team wins from year to year.
Text: Konstantin Komkov
Photo: from the KamAZ archive, Andy Aksenov, Konstantin Komkov, Alain Rosignol, Clement Maren, Gilen Laporte
For five years (since 1982), Mercedes trucks have not yielded to anyone in the first places in the African supermarathon. But after the victory of Daf, which broke the German hegemony, came the turn of the Perlini and Tatra trucks. As for KamAZ, the largest Russian manufacturer of trucks made its debut at Dakar only in 1990, and a year later KamAZ trucks took second and third places on the podium of the main off-road race of our time. Then there were victorious starts at the "Master-Rally" and finally the first place at the "Dakar-1996". And that was just the beginning: in the new millennium, the team from Naberezhnye Chelny fired a series of six victories! By the way, in 2008 the sports team of the Kama Automobile Plant will celebrate its twentieth anniversary.
In order to describe in detail the history of the technology that made the "KAMAZ" brand famous, it would take many thick volumes, which ... we simply do not have. However, it is also not entirely correct to completely ignore the topic of heavy-duty cars from Naberezhnye Chelny on the eve of the Dakar. In general, we decided to give a cross between a multivolume study devoted to the past, present and future of racing trucks bearing the KamAZ brand and a news note that the KAMAZ-master team will take part in the next January marathon. This journalistic maneuvering between globalism and superficiality resulted in two articles in this issue. Firstly, this is a face-to-face acquaintance with the combat vehicle of the leading pilot of the KAMAZ-master team, Vladimir Chagin, which took place at the Dmitrov auto-range. And secondly, a historical and technical excursion about the glorious path of "combat" KamAZ trucks - vehicles that won seven victories in the African marathon (in fact, you are reading it now). But let's get everything in order ...
The brainchild of Semyon Yakubov
In 1988, Dakar celebrated its tenth anniversary. By this time, through the efforts of a French importer, the products of one of the Soviet automotive giants, namely AvtoVAZ, were also presented on its routes. Moreover, it was “presented” very well: in 1981 Jean-Claude Briavoin, who played at the Niva, took third place in the overall standings, after which he climbed to the second step of the podium twice more. As for the truck classification, in those years such world famous brands as Mercedes, MAN and Daf fought for victory in it. And here history makes a sharp turn ... Semyon Yakubov, who headed the scientific and technical center of KamAZ (STC) in 1987, was convinced that the plant should definitely develop motor sports. And since at one time he himself successfully raced in passenger cars, we can say that the idea to try the forces of Kama trucks on the Dakar was not born out of nowhere. But first I had to try my hand at the international arena. In September 1988, at the Yelch rally, the international sports debut of the trucks of the Kama Automobile Plant took place. In the vicinity of the Polish city of Wroclaw, "KAMAZ" brought two all-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles KamAZ-4310C (that is, sports). These were practically serial flatbed trucks with a 6x6 wheel arrangement and permanent all-wheel drive. The cars were equipped with a roll cage, stiffer springs and additional shock absorbers. By increasing the fuel supply and tuning the turbocharger, the engine was boosted to 290 hp. To improve reliability, a torsional vibration damper was also used and the lubrication and cooling systems were modernized. A distinctive feature of KamAZ-4310C was a bright yellow awning covering the body. The debut was successful: second and fourth places in the truck category.
We couldn't be the first in any way. At the Paris - Moscow - Beijing marathon, the first two places were taken by two-axle cars. The third axle means additional power costs, extra weight. Its presence affects handling, the car becomes less maneuverable. Therefore, even then we were thinking about a two-axle vehicle, but KamAZ had not yet produced such cars. And the technical regulations required confirmation of serial production.
Cars of Russian origin
But back to Dakar. Due to the tragedy that happened in 1988 with the second Daf Turbotwin truck (twin-engine, six turbines, 1220 hp) of Jan de Rooy's team (navigator Kees van Levesin died in an accident), the following year, 1989, the organizers banned the class of trucks ... The first acquaintance of the KAMAZ team with the African continent took place in May 1989 on the Obzhektiv-syud rally track. This race was organized by Georges Gruan for trucks, and its 9,500 km route crossed eight countries (France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone). The team from Naberezhnye Chelny prepared three trucks for Obzhektiv-syud in just six months: two racing trucks and one technical support. These were all the same production cars, however, boosted to 310 hp. engines KamAZ -740 (turbochargers were modified, the intake, exhaust and engine cooling system was changed).
It should be noted that in those years the word "KamAZ" did not say anything to the Spanish customs officers. It didn’t say so much that a streamlined wording appeared in the accompanying documents: “three cars of Russian origin”. And then the unexpected happened: in rivalry with the rally-raid aces driving Mercedes, Man, Renault, Tatra and Iveco, KamAZ crews showed the second and third results! The year 1989 was ending, and there was not much time left before the start of the thirteenth Dakar ... In terms of preparation for the African marathon in Naberezhnye Chelny, it was decided to install ten-cylinder experimental engines and a gearbox without a divider on sports trucks (only such a gearbox could fit next to with such a massive engine). And in order to reduce the distance between the gearbox and the transfer case, a double-joint cardan without a splined part was made. Alas, the first performance at the Dakar marathon ended for the KAMAZ team, as it should be for the first pancake: all three crews left.
The ten-cylinder experimental engines also did not justify the hopes placed on them: the crankshaft burst in one car, the piston broke in the second, and the flywheel began to crumble in the third. But the failure was not the reason for curtailing the program. In the same season, at the "Rally of the Pharaohs" in Egypt, two-axle prototypes KamAZ-49145 with a serial KamAZ-7403 engine with a capacity of 280 hp were tested. However, despite a fairly successful performance and occupied fourth and sixth places, the use of two-axle sports cars was postponed for some time.
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"COMMANDER" FOR KAMAZ It was a coincidence that I got this watch. Aleksey Solopov, a journalist from Tatarstan, was preparing to cover the performance of the KamAZ team at the 1991 Paris-Dakar rally. In addition to the "KAMAZ", Alexei then had a friendship with the "Vostok" plant, which, along with all sorts of secret things for the military, also produced wristwatches of article 2414 (better known as "commander's"). In a word, an idea arose. On one of the parties, the "commander's" sketch with a star was replaced by a dial, which adorned the new emblem of the Kama Automobile Plant and the emblem "Paris - Dakar". This was the second year that KamAZ went to the African super marathon. And he also became the first in a glorious series of victories for the racing trucks of the Kama plant in Africa. As for the commemorative watches, one thousand of them were made. Denis ORLOV, special correspondent for ORD magazine |
Reliability bet
The three-axle Kama truck, prepared for the 1992 Dakar, was equipped with a classic eight-cylinder KamAZ-7482 engine (power 360 hp), an original gearbox based on a modified KamAZ-53215 gearbox, a KamAZ -43114 transfer case and a diaphragm double-disc clutch using slave sintered discs made by AP (England). Also, the car had improved power steering and tire inflation system, and 1800-mm springs were used in the suspension. The result exceeded expectations: on the 9186-kilometer track of the African marathon, two "combat" KamAZ -43101 took second and third places, leaving only the two-axle Perlini ahead.
It must be said that during this period, when preparing "KAMAZ" sports cars, the emphasis was primarily on reliability (all loaded parts were manufactured, as they say, with a margin), and as a result, the mass of trucks increased. Around the same years, the management of the Kama auto giant began to view racing trucks as an ideal platform for testing ideas that could later be used in mass production.
In preparation for the 1992 season (it was planned to hold two super marathons: "Paris - Cape Town" and "Paris - Moscow - Beijing"), new crankshafts were tested. The layout of racing trucks was also improved: spare wheels and tanks were placed in the body, and in order to reduce the total weight of the car, they began to use light aluminum platforms. At the same time, work was underway on the aerodynamics of the cars. And yet it was not possible to bypass the two-axle trucks. And in the early 90s, the Kama Automobile Plant produced a series of Mustang trucks, which included the long-awaited two-axle vehicle.
4x4 version
In 1993, the Master association became a partner of the team, and the new KAMAZ-Master Team symbols appeared on the sides of the updated Kama trucks. Thanks to this cooperation, the three-axle KamAZ -43101 was replaced by a racing KamAZ -49250 based on a two-axle truck. On the 4x4 version, a forced up to 500 hp was installed. engine KamAZ -7482. The engine has significantly changed the design of the block, the attachment point of the flywheel to the crankshaft, the drive of the high-pressure fuel pump and the charge air cooling system. But most importantly, the car had a mid-engined layout! By the way, this arrangement of the engine became standard for all rally KamAZ trucks up to 2002. The reason is simple - the transfer of a massive power unit inside the base provided a good weight distribution along the axes and, accordingly, improved handling. The engine was paired with a sixteen-speed gearbox in a block with a transfer case manufactured by ZF. As for the suspension, it was developed and produced at the Volgograd Tractor Plant, and it was based on the BMD suspension. At the same time, 25-inch wheels were used for the first time on rally KamAZ trucks.
But in 1994 the engine, boosted to the limit, failed on the Dakar track, and was replaced by the American six-cylinder Cummins N14-500E with a capacity of 600 hp. A sports truck with such a power unit received the KamAZ -49251 index. At the same time, an alternative version of KamAZ-49252 was created with the Yaroslavl eight-cylinder YaMZ-7E846 with a capacity of 750 hp. Externally, trucks with a Yaroslavl engine differed in that in this version there were two exhaust pipes and two air intakes on the roof of the body, and on a car with a Cummins engine - one pipe and one air intake.
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FORGE OF VICTORIES Since its inception, the sports team of the Kama Automobile Building Plant, known today as "KAMAZ -master", was based under the roof of the KamAZ Scientific and Technical Center (hereinafter STC), which was headed by Semyon Yakubov from 1987 to 1995. It was he who organized a professional sports team on the basis of this enterprise. This unit dates back to April 1970, when the chief designer's office was created at KamAZ. Later (in the early 80s) it was transformed into the STC. Here they are directly engaged in the design of trucks, the manufacture of prototypes, testing them, debugging the technology and transferring to the manufacturer for mass production of a modern competitive product. We must have a world class racing truck |
Today, the STC employs more than a thousand specialists of various profiles: they are constructors, technologists, designers, researchers, highly qualified workers and test drivers. Of course, the STC has a powerful research and experimental base, which includes unique stands, laboratories and test stations. However, over time, the sports team here became, on the one hand, cramped, and on the other, the building erected in the seventies no longer corresponded to the level of a small enterprise called KAMAZ-master.
In a word, in 1995 Yakubov, who is an advisor to the general director of OJSC KamAZ, managed to convince the management, and the team was allocated an unfinished building of the KamAZ design center. Soon, work began on equipping a special technical center with a total area of about 10 thousand m2. And in 2006 the team, transformed into a separate department of specialized equipment of OJSC KamAZ, moved to its own house, where from now on, the whole complex of work on sports cars is being carried out. It is perhaps difficult to surprise with the decoration of the offices today, but the production workshop with an area of 2 thousand m2, which can simultaneously accommodate more than a dozen sports trucks, makes an impression even on sophisticated Western visitors. By the way, trucks get onto its marble floor through the sink. Cleanliness and order reign in the workshop and spacious workplaces. And even the air is specially purified here, and a certain temperature regime is maintained: in winter +22 ° С, in summer +17 ° С.
I must say that our editorial troop was here at a rather hot moment: there was very little time left before the start of the January marathon (and even less time before the visit of the FIA technical delegate). However, the lack of fuss created the impression of a certain slowness. Each habitually went about his business. Apparently, a clear organization of the production process makes it more intensive. Needless to say, the "sports" shop is equipped with everything you need - from high-quality tools at the locksmith's area to storage facilities. Such a high-tech production is capable of transforming to perform tasks of any complexity, because work on improving technology is constantly being carried out here.
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SHORT "EXHIBITION OF ACHIEVEMENTS" UNIT BASE OF SPORT TRUCKS KAMAZ
Engine
In preparation for the Yelch-1988 and Objektiv-syud-1989 off-road rallies, turbocharged diesel engines were installed on all-wheel drive vehicles, and the very first steps were taken towards forcing the production KamAZ-7403 engines to 280 hp. Further growth of the power of KamAZ engines took place in two stages.
Achievement of power 400-430 hp with the maximum use of serial parts and the active introduction of imported components into the motor design.
Manufacturing of a 500 hp engine with a significant change in the design of parts and assemblies, including basic parts.
In a short time (less than eight months), the KamAZ-7482 engine with a capacity of 430 hp was developed. and a batch of such motors has been assembled. Original crankshafts of larger dimensions, oil crankcase castings were manufactured. For the first time, many design solutions were tested on these engines and experience was gained in using imported components (turbochargers, charge air coolers, fan drive couplings). Cars with these engines successfully performed from 1991 to 1994 at various rallies (they are still used as service cars today). In 1991, such a truck became the second in the Paris - Dakar rally. Currently, the serial version of the KamAZ-7482 engine has become the base for promising cars. As we have already said, the samples of 500 hp motors. were manufactured with significant design changes. In total, more than 250 names of new parts were made. These power units, which took less than six months to prepare, took part in the Dakar -1994 rally. As for the use of YaMZ and Cummins engines on sports cars, it made it possible in a short time to work out designs for adapting various engines of domestic production and foreign firms to KamAZ vehicles.
Clutch
For the first time with the KamAZ-7482 engine, a diaphragm double-disc clutch was used with the use of AP sintered discs (England). In the manufacture of KamAZ vehicles
On the secondary shaft, involute splines are used for the flange.
On two-axle all-wheel drive vehicles KamAZ -49250 and -49255, a combined gearbox with a transfer case from ZF was used. At the same time, many design solutions were worked out for the gear change drive and docking with the engine.
Transfer case
The consistent strengthening of the serial transfer case (from 1989 to 1991) led to the creation of the RKP KamAZ -43114 unit (subsequently used on cars of the Mustang family). Today this transfer case is in production. The designers, together with the athletes and testers, carried out the following work: gear reinforcement, splined connection of the drive shaft and gear (instead of key), use of tapered bearings on the intermediate shaft (instead of cylindrical), installation of the lower gear on the intermediate shaft on roller bearings (instead of bulk rollers ), changing the gear ratio of the lowest gear and much more. All this in total made it possible to increase the value of the transmitted torque from 80 to 150 kgm.
Cardan shafts
Cardan joints with a Teflon-coated spline part were manufactured and tested. The results obtained on the wear resistance and strength of such a spline connection made it possible to recommend the production of such cardan shafts for all modifications of KamAZ trucks. In connection with the increase in the suspension travel on two-axle sports cars, cardan joints of the German company GWB (Germany) are used with permissible bending angles up to 35 °. By the way, based on this experience, the designers of the Scientific and Technical Center developed a similar hinge, which may soon be introduced into mass production.
Axles and gearboxes
To achieve high speeds in sports cars, the main gears 4.01 and 3.39 were developed. For two years, sports cars were tested for interwheel locking for KamAZ-55105. The blocking design that exists today came after repeated changes in the angles of the mating parts, the teeth of the engagement. As a result of numerous experiments, a new material for the semiaxis was found (steel 40KhN2MA) and a new treatment mode with high-frequency currents was used to achieve the maximum bearing capacity of the semiaxes. It is a turnkey solution for vehicles with engine power up to 450 hp. When switching to KamAZ-49252, a new gearbox was created with partial unification with the parts of KrAZ vehicles, which makes it possible to raise the realizable torque on a two-axle vehicle up to 300 kgm. On the basis of this gearbox, a bridge was created for a moment of 300 kgm and 13 tons of load. In addition, a unique gearbox in a welded steel casing for a torque of 400 kgm has been developed and manufactured.
Brakes
Brakes with increased load capacity have been developed. The measures and design of parts have been worked out to ensure the maximum increase in the energy consumption of the brake mechanism. The issues of checking and ensuring the operability of plastic pipelines with a modified design of connectors with improved weight and cost characteristics have been resolved. The functionality of pneumatic equipment has been tested in extreme conditions. Work is underway to improve its reliability. A new brake pad material has been tested to improve brake performance.
Steering
Work has been done to increase the pressure in the power steering pump and related modifications to the parts of the steering units. Changed drive transmission ratios. When developing KamAZ-49250 vehicles, a computational and experimental method was obtained for choosing the steering drive kinematics at large suspension travels (up to 400 mm).
Wheel hub unit
A manufacturing technology has been developed at KraMZ (Krasnoyarsk) of hubs and rims made of high strength aluminum alloys. Reinforcement of the hub bearing assembly has been carried out. As a result of the replacement of materials and the introduction of major design changes, the bearing capacity of the trunnion has more than doubled. Also, several variants of pump heads on sports cars were tested, which made it possible to choose the optimal design for cars of the Mustang family.
Suspension
For the first time in practice, the use of long springs (1800 mm) with a guide bar has been tested to improve the stability and smoothness of all-wheel drive vehicles. An original solution was used to create a combined suspension consisting of leaf springs and a hydropneumatic element. A scientific development was carried out, as a result of which, on the basis of computer modeling of the suspension dynamics, the optimization of the location of the jet rod was carried out, which increased the resource of the springs several times.
Frame and platform
Carrying out tests on sports cars using strain gauges on all frame elements made it possible to develop a method for determining the rigidity and resource strength of the entire bearing system. Reduced metal consumption of cars due to the use of original frame designs and platform elements. Various options for increasing the rigidity and reliability of frame elements have been worked out.
Electrical equipment
In the conditions of the competition, tests are carried out of rechargeable batteries of both domestic and foreign production, which makes it possible to draw conclusions about the choice of the type of battery for severe operating conditions.
Cabin
Various variants of cab suspension have been tested on sports cars in order to increase the comfort and reliability of its attachment to the chassis. Various options for revising the cab for vehicles with KamAZ, Cummins and YaMZ engines have been developed. Moreover, both with a traditional front-engined and mid-engined layout.
Note that the first foreign component that was registered on a Russian sports truck was a British-made clutch, although further KAMAZ used more and more imported parts ... For example, the next generation of racing trucks (already two-axle!) Received an American Cummins engine with a capacity of 520 hp ... However, when the Yaroslavl engine builders offered the YaMZ-7E846 power unit, the KAMAZ employees chose a Russian turbodiesel: it won over with high torque at low speeds and good performance on low-grade fuel.
With such an engine, the mid-engined KamAZ-49252 brought the KAMAZ team to the victorious podium of the Paris-Moscow-Beijing marathon and allowed them to win the golden Berber in the Dakar 96. But then the truck was again implanted with a new heart: a 12-cylinder with a capacity of more than a thousand horses "! At" Dakar "98" such a "KamAZ" performed unsuccessfully, because the huge power could not "digest" the transmission ... This prototype was the last Kama truck, where the engine was located in the middle: the new rules of marathons forced engineers to hastily create and test a new car - "KamAZ-49256".
After the model 49256, created in a hurry, a unique KamAZ-4911 Extreme appeared - a machine that had no analogues in cross-country ability, maneuverability and dynamics. "Forty-nine-eleven" managed to dub it "the flying truck": this monster, pushing off from natural jumps, effectively took off above the ground! In its debut 2003, the high-speed heavy cargo retained victories in the Cup and the Championship of Russia, the rally "Desert Challenge", "Khazar Steppes", "Cappadocia", and most importantly - the gold and bronze Berbers "Dakar". Can you think of a better car? "Can!" - answered KAMAZ.
In 2007, the current generation of sports trucks, KamAZ-4326-9, was born. This sports truck is powered by the Russian YMZ-7E846 engine with a volume of 18.47 liters. At the stand, the V8 turbodiesel develops an impressive 830 hp. power and 3500 Nm of torque. However, the Yaroslavl turbo monster is not ideal: firstly, it is gluttonous (in a race, the engine consumes more than 100 liters of diesel fuel for every 100 kilometers of run), secondly, it is massive (1400 kg), and thirdly, it has a modest resource - the engine takes about 30 thousand racing kilometers.
The rest of the mechanical stuffing of the trucks of the Kamaz-Master team is a composite hodgepodge of domestic and imported units: clutch - English SACHS, gearbox - German 16-speed ZF, transfer case - Austrian Steyr, cardan gear - Turkish Tirsan Kardan. If earlier heavy KAMAZ bridges were installed, now racing trucks received Finnish Sisu bridges, however, instead of standard disc brakes, domestic drum brakes were mounted (brake drive from the Belgian company Wabco). Tires - Race Proven Michelin 14.00 R20XZL.
By the way, the car of the seven-time winner of the Dakar, Vladimir Chagin, differs from the rest of the trucks of the “blue armada”: if a “regular” racing KamAZ costs about 200 thousand euros, then the cost of a 900-strong Chagin car is 680 thousand euros! Where did this difference come from? Of all the trucks created by the Kamaz-Master team, this one is the lightest and fastest: the maximum speed is 180 km / h, and acceleration to 100 km / h takes less than 10 seconds. But visually, Chagin's car differs only in small xenon headlights, as well as in the cabin, which is shifted forward as much as possible.
What will happen next? Most recently, KAMAZ employees tested American Cummins engines, but so far there is no alternative to the Yaroslavl engine. The team's engineers are also involved in reducing the weight of trucks (now the cars weigh almost 9200 kg, although according to the Dakar regulations the weight can be 8500 kg) and improving the weight distribution (on the Chagin prototype, the proportion "fifty to fifty" was achieved). However, the revision of current cars is an attempt to make the ideal out of the best: the sports "KamAZ" remains an uncompromising machine that allows you to stamp victories one after another.
Components:
Cab - KamAZ, Russia
Engine - YaMZ (18.47 l, 830 HP, 3500 Nm), Russia
Clutch - SACHS, Germany
Gearbox - ZF (16 steps), Germany
Transfer Case - Steyr, Austria
Cardan drive - Tirsan Kardan, Turkey
Bridges - Sisu, Finland
Braking system - Wabco, Belgium
Shock absorbers - Reiger, Holland
Tires - Michelin (14.00 R20XZL), France
A machine ready for exploits
"Spread the wings of your imagination and feel the unknown dimensions of speed and space"
In September 1988, the team from Naberezhnye Chelny made its debut at the Yelch rally in Poland. In that first rally-raid in its history, KAMAZ athletes performed on serial four-wheel drive SUVs KAMAZ 4310 ... Already in the early 90s, in close collaboration with the factory designers and testers, the team created their own sports trucks: KAMAZ 49250 and KAMAZ 49251 ... The basis for these machines was the most advanced technology of the Kama Automobile Plant at that time.
In 1994, the team took part in a car with pronounced sports characteristics, which are fundamentally different from ordinary production trucks - KAMAZ 49252 ... It had a 750 horsepower engine, a mid-engined layout and large 25-inch wheels. The sloping platform of the SUV, designed to reduce aerodynamic drag, is an original stage in the design of a sports truck that has gone down in history. In a year, three new generation sports trucks will carry the KAMAZ crews to the victorious podium of the Paris-Moscow-Beijing auto marathon. A few months later, in January 1996, the team became the winner of the legendary Dakar rally-marathon for the first time.
Experiments on technique were sometimes a little too daring. For example, sports KAMAZ 49255 had a twelve-cylinder engine with a capacity of 1050 horsepower. His hyper-powerful heart broke the transmission, which happened at the 1998 Dakar. Very often, cars were born in the shortest possible time. So, in 2002, the FIA vetoed the participation in the Dakar of trucks with a mid-engined line-up, which provides good weight distribution and stability. The Kamaz truck was just that. But the biggest difficulty was that these innovations became known only six months before the start. In a short time, a combat sports truck was created KAMAZ 49256 with an 830 horsepower engine. He was born in agony, after each test the car was taken from the landfill on a trawl. And only a few hours before the command was sent to the Dakar, the error was found and eliminated. As a result, the car passed the test of durability, bringing KAMAZ another Dakar gold.
A year later, the KAMAZ-master team made a new qualitative leap by creating a new model of a sports car. KAMAZ 4911 EXTREME became a combat vehicle unparalleled in cross-country ability, maneuverability and dynamics. For its unique technical and operational qualities, it was named "the flying truck". Indeed, in the hands of such masters as the pilot Vladimir Chagin, this car at speed easily lifted off the ground, pushing off natural jumps. With an 830 horsepower engine, the car accelerated to 100 km / h in ten seconds.
Since 1999, the rally "Desert Challenge" in the United Arab Emirates has become a traditional testing ground for technical innovations, the conditions of which are as close as possible to those of Dakar. The team began to constantly work to reduce the weight of the car, increase the smoothness of the ride and solve many other important tasks to improve the technology.
In 2007, the organizers of the Dakar again changed the technical requirements for the trucks participating in the race, somewhat softening them. In particular, it became possible to shift the engine back a little, which the KAMAZ-master team took advantage of, improving the weight distribution and maneuverability of the car, as well as increasing the ride smoothness. However, the relief in one led to a tightening in the other: new requirements for serial production were introduced. If earlier, in order for a sports truck to pass homologation, it was enough to release fifteen such cars from the assembly line, now it took fifty over two years. Therefore, again, a car produced by the Kama auto giant for the needs of the army was taken as the basis for the new model.
At the end of 2007 was born KAMAZ-4326 VK ... Only one fact testifies to the conscientiousness of the approach to the creation of the vehicle: the new KAMAZ combat truck was the first to undergo homologation in its class. The pre-jubilee KAMAZ-4326 VK, which embodied all the best practices of the team, proved its potential first at the stages of the Russian Championship, and then at the Dakar 2009.
In 2016, the KAMAZ-master team presented a sports truck with a bonnet configuration. The decision to create a new car was made on the basis of the growing trend for the use of bonnet vehicles in the off-road sports discipline.
