With KAMAZ-master set to race in China for the first time at the Taklimakan Rally, the team has signed a deal with Chinese company JAC Motors for service vehicles.

While JAC proclaims the “start of a long-term partnership”, it only runs through the end of 2026. As part of the deal, KAMAZ will use the JAC T9 pickup truck, J7 liftback sedan, JS6 SUV, and RF8 minivan as assistance and media cars.

JAC is no stranger to rallies. Huang Weizhi drove a T8 to a 51st-place finish and eighth in T1.1 at the 2024 edition, while JACs have also been used in a supporting capacity at KAMAZ’s usual stomping ground in the Silk Way Rally.

“The JAC T9 pickup performed exceptionally well when traversing sections with challenging terrain and soft ground, thanks to its classic drivetrain layout with the necessary locking differentials and its excellent body geometry for off-road clearance,” explained KAMAZ-master design guru Evgeny Yakolev. “At the same time, the vehicle offers a reasonable level of comfort when driving on the highway. More importantly, the pickup’s exterior design blends quite nicely with the stylistic theming of our race trucks.”

The fleet of JACs will appear at the Taklimakan as well as every round of the Russian Rally-Raid Championship, including the Silk Way. KAMAZ is the two-time defending overall winner of the latter. Taklimakan, on the other hand, will be a new experience for KAMAZ; RAFRR rivals Ural Motorsport and MAZ-SPORTauto will also take part for the first time.

“It is a great honor for JAC to become a partner of the KAMAZ-master team,” JAC deputy general director Viktor Nashchansky offered. “The participation of our vehicles in such legendary races represents not only a worthy test of our technology, but also an opportunity for us to demonstrate the reliability of our products and their readiness to face any challenge.

“We are confident that this long-term partnership will serve to prove, in practice, the ability of JAC vehicles to perform in any—even extreme—conditions.”

Featured image credit: JAC Motors