G-Force Motorsport

Alexey Denisov: Strategy, tactics, Isuzu and hockey

Thursday, 30 July 2009 12:22

Алексей Денисов
Ahead of the third round of the Russian Cross-Country Championship - "Khazar Steppes" in the Astrakhan' region - we asked some questions to one of the strongest competitors in the national Production category - Alexey Denisov.

How's the season developing for your crew?

Алексей ДенисовAlexey Denisov: The season is going not quite the way we wish it was. In both previous events we had some problems by the end of race, and they didn't depend on us. Moreover each time they happened when the result was so close. I'm not prone to blaming machinery somehow - instead, I like our car, it's very reliable, and the failures are not repetitive. Only were we not lucky two times, it happens, just  a misfortune...

So your decision to change the car is not somehow connected to it?

- It was more a strategic decision to change the car. Nothing to do with Nissan failures, cause they were accidental. Who could have predicted the bonnet locks would rip off? Such thing could happen with any other car. Just a misfortune. But as our team promotes Isuzu D-Max into the Russian market, I decided to drive this car also, especially as the vehicle is wonderful. It's strange but there've been no such cars in our country until now, even though they are very popular in the world. To understand this just look at the entry list of any european cross-country race.

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Now let's speak about «Khazar Steppes». Are you going to drive it on Nissan or already on Isuzu? What will your tactics be like: a cautious approach or a maximum pressure?

- We'll go to Astrakhan' with the Nissan. As for tactics... it might sound naive, but despite not having ever competed in this race I think I will push as much as I can. I have a very experienced and a very good co-driver (Dmitriy Kozhukhov), and I'm absolutely not afraid of the route...

Did you follow the Spanish Baja?

- Yes, it was an interesting race. Rough and unpredictable. Last year I attended it as a spectator and could witness everything. This time I didn't have an opportunity to go there, so I followed it on-line by all possible  means. There's a very interesting and twisty route, always a lot of retirements. The heat provided even more extreme. I liked it much...

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What else except cross-country rallying are you fond of?
- I have another favourite kind of sports - ice hockey. I play it twice a week, during the whole season. I just don't have time for more. Motorsport is of course the most important, and I pay maximum attention to it, but  twice a week, whenever it's possible, I do hockey training...

Do you have any plans for the next season?

- I think I'd better concentrate on the national series. I'll probably give up on competing in foreign events to the advantage of my Russian programme. This year I didn't set any goals for the championship, it was more like a training season for me, but next year I will try to win Russian Championship in the T2 category.

Алексей Денисов

Interview with Alexey Denisov by Alexander Lesnikov
Photos: Alexander Lesnikov, Svetlana Shakhova, Maria Gorshkova