‘Overwhelming’ is still the feeling that prevails for Janus van Kasteren when he thinks back to the 2023 Dakar Rally. The year in which he was the fastest in his truck in the toughest rally in the world. This year he is the big absentee in the desert, but a return is already certain. Next year he will be back in Saudi Arabia with his own team and car.
There is total euphoria on January 15, 2023 when Janus van Kasteren crosses the finish line in the final stage of the Dakar Rally. “That is the best moment of the entire rally. We jumped on each other in the cabin and then celebrated with the mechanics. Then you had to drive another 150 kilometers to the podium. Then I really received countless messages.”
The driver from Veldhoven celebrated it later that evening in Bahrain with the other Dutch participants and threw a big party at his home a week later. “I really wanted to go home after the finish to celebrate there. I have forgotten a lot about all the festivities in Saudi Arabia. It was so surreal at that moment. Then you forget those things. Crazy, isn’t it?
“Everyone was stuck in the mud, but we were able to continue. That’s where we won the Dakar Rally.”
What he has not forgotten is the moment when he controlled the Dakar Rally. “That was during that stage in the rain. Everyone was stuck in the mud and my mechanic Darek said ‘Gas!’. So we were able to continue driving while everyone was stuck. That is the moment we won the Dakar Rally.”
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Van Kasteren is still reminded of his victory every day. “I was recently on a plane to China and suddenly someone said: ‘You won the Dakar Rally, right?’ Those are beautiful moments. It is also the most beautiful moment of my life.”
Last year the Veldhoven resident came fourth in the trucks, this year the former winner is the big absentee. But not for long. Next year he will return in the toughest rally in the world. “But then with the cars,” says van Kasteren.
“We have started a new team together with Michiel Becx and Rogier Grouwels. We want to be at the start of this next year. We will be holding about five or six rallies throughout the year, culminating in the Dakar Rally.”
We will see the Brabander in the T1 class in the coming years. “We will certainly continue with this over the next three years.” But is this the final farewell to the truck? “Certainly not! It is still a dream to win there again. And preferably together with Marcel and Darek again. That’s what I dream about.”