Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated the Russian Team Kamaz and Vladimir Chagin on winning the 2010 Dakar Rally, the Kremlin said Sunday.
Medvedev wished Chagin and his colleagues new high achievements and good luck.
Chagin, who had previously won Dakar five times, on Saturday celebrated victory again. Though he finished fourth in the last, 14th stage, his truck showed the best time in 2010 Dakar stages nine times.
Overall, it took Chagin 55 hours 4 minutes 47 seconds to cover the entire distance. His teammate Firdaus Kabirov was 1 hour 13 minutes 8 seconds behind.
The 2010 Dakar Rally was the 32nd annual event. It took place in South America for the second successive year and ran until January 16. Last year marked the first time that the rally, founded in 1979, had taken place outside Africa, due to safety reasons.
Teams from 50 countries in 52 trucks, 160 motorcycles and 138 cars were taking part in the race that kicked off from the Obelisk on Buenos Aires's central 9th of July Avenue on New Year's Day.
The total racing distance was 9,030 km (5,610 miles) for cars and trucks, and 8,937 km (5,553 miles) for bikes and ATVs. There were seven stages in Argentina, and seven in Chile.
MOSCOW, January 17 (RIA Novosti)
