Minister of Physical Culture and Sports of the Sverdlovsk Region Leonid Rapoport and Sverdlovsk racer Sergey Karyakin discussed the athlete's participation in the Dakar-2017 rally.

"State support exists, and it will be within the budgetary code. In connection with the fact that Sergei works in the state autonomous institution "Center for Technical Sports" in Kamensk-Uralsky, we will buy him the necessary equipment so that he can modernize it in accordance with the technical requirements for a modern car. Of course, most of this project is extra-budgetary money. It's also about sponsoring money, it's very important to send athletes. There is understanding, there is a support. The process is launched, "- said Leonid Rapoport.

According to the minister, potential sponsors may be interested in placing the logo on the athlete's uniform.

"So that you understand, the average budget for the race in Dakar in my class is 400-500 thousand euros. And the fact that we won this year with three people in the team - pure luck.

And we need a result, we need persistence, and, unfortunately, the human resource is important. Otherwise, the probability of winning will be extremely small. We are with the Ministry of Sport in very dense work, and I am sure that we will get this work to participate in competitions and, I hope, win. There are negotiations with the sponsors, Leonid Aronovich contributes, there are certain developments, "- said Sergey Karyakin.

Recall Yekaterinburg, Sergei Karyakin in January 2017 won the Dakar-2017 rally in the category Quad.