There are no shortage of bitchin cars, trucks, buggies, and bikes that run the Dakar Rally each year, but none, and I mean NONE, get me more excited that watching the giant Kamaz, Tatra, Hino, and Iveco trucks hauling ass across the desert and catching big air. Some of these trucks make 1,000 hp and the suspension systems are put to the test in ways nobody ever would have imagined for something this big. These trucks have evolved so much over the years, as they have gone from being simple support vehicles to full on race rigs. With that said, they are still carrying supplies, three crew members, and a lot of tools and equipment in some cases. More than anything though, they are carrying a whole lot of attitude and it makes me smile to watch them slide, and jump, and throw rooster tails.

For the Russian Kamaz teams the thought of practicing in sand makes them laugh as they don’t have the terrain to do so. Instead, they go to an area of Russia known for big, deep, fluffy snow that has these trucks performing almost exactly the same as they do in the sand and dirt of the desert. In this video you’ll see some of that testing and high flying action. The only difference in setup appears to be the studded Conti tires that no man could pickup on their own.

Watch the video and you’ll dig it.