The factory racing team known as KAMAZ master is actively exploring ways to stabilize its budget after losing several key sponsorships. In recent years, the club has relied not only on its own resources but also on international partners to fund its competitive programs. With foreign sponsors stepping away, the team faces tighter financial constraints, and the portion of funding provided by PJSC KAMAZ alone is not sufficient to cover the full racing season’s needs.
Facing the withdrawal of overseas partners, the team has shifted to an austerity-minded approach while pursuing alternative channels to refill the coffers. For a long period there were ongoing inquiries about selling individual cars, but recent circumstances have accelerated these discussions. Vladimir Chagin, the head of KAMAZ master, acknowledges that allowing a respected sports KAMAZ to change hands could provide a much-needed financial boost for the squad to press on with its activities, a sentiment echoed during interviews with Match TV.
At present, the trucks retain logos only from Russian partners. The official team site indicates that in March, branding from Red Bull (Austria), Varta (Germany), and Goodyear (United States) disappeared from the sides of the race vehicles. In response to the revenue shortfall, three trucks are being prepared for sale: a KAMAZ-4911 from 2004 priced at 8.2 million rubles, a KAMAZ-4326 from 2007 listed at 10.4 million rubles, and the newer KAMAZ-43509, which is currently offered at 60 million rubles. Sportbox notes that the KAMAZ-43509 remains among the four machines that clinched the team’s Dakar Rally victory. Attribution: Sportbox.
In 2022, during the Dakar Rally—the world’s most prestigious off-road marathon—the Russian squad secured four first-place finishes with four different vehicles. That triumph marked the 19th Dakar success for KAMAZ master. Yet, following events in February, the future participation of domestic-equipped teams in some international contests has become a subject of debate. At present, the team continues to compete in the Archeda Baja in the Volgograd region. It is worth recalling that last year MAZ, another factory team, was not admitted to the race by organizers. Attribution: Sportbox.
- As a manufacturer, KAMAZ is adapting to the new reality by localizing the production of critical components, including frame assemblies for the K5 family trucks. This change reflects a broader shift toward domestic supply chains and self-reliance in a challenging financial environment.
- Updates and team chatter can be followed through the team’s communications channels, including messaging platforms such as Viber.
Beyond the present moment, the KAMAZ master program continues to emphasize performance heritage and engineering prowess. The strategy centers on maintaining competitive parity while exploring opportunities to monetize historical assets, invest in new equipment, and sustain the momentum that has defined the team for years. The balance between preserving a storied racing culture and meeting tight budget realities remains at the core of management’s decisions, with the overarching goal of preserving the legacy of Russian rally raid success. Attribution: Team communications.
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