For years, the Russians have dominated the standings in the Dakar Rally with their trucks. In fact, it is already certain in advance that a blue Kamaz will win the match. But that will be different during the upcoming Dakar Rally, because the chance of a boycott of the Russians because of the war is high. “I am now going for first place,” says the Brabant driver Janus van Kasteren.
Gerard de Rooy, owner of Team de Rooy from Son, has never had so many requests from drivers for a seat in one of his Iveco race trucks. Due to the obvious boycott of the Russian Kamaz Master Team, drivers from around the world see their chances of success soar.
“Everyone suddenly wants to have a good truck,” says De Rooy. “But I can only make a few. The garage is full.”
“We can’t make it to the rest of the world that the Russians participate.”
Sports and politics should not actually be linked, but there is a huge chance that the Dakar organization will exclude the Russians from participating. Last edition, for example, the Belarusians were not allowed to participate as a protest against the rule of dictator Lukashenko.
“I actually prefer that they just participate, because I have nothing against Kamaz,” says Gerard de Rooy, himself a two-time Dakar winner. “But of course it’s about the situation and we can’t make it to the rest of the world that they participate now. The pressure on the organization is therefore increased.”
“If I start driving now, I will go for first place. You can now write history.”
The almost inevitable boycott of the Russian trucks opens up great opportunities for others for sporting success. After many years it could result in a Brabant winner again. Janus van Kasteren drove a very good Dakar Rally in January, but still finished fifth behind four Russians. The driver from Veldhoven can now compete for the title.
“If I start driving now, I will go for first place,” he agrees. “The reason is of course not fun, but it makes the Dakar Rally more fun for me. Where we all had to compete for place five before, it is now suddenly first place. We will drive very hard again. because you can now write history, although it couldn’t get any crazier and faster than last time.”
Hopefully the boycott will not be necessary because the war will be over by then. However, that chance seems small at the moment. “The Russians might still be able to participate under a neutral flag,” says Gerard de Rooy. “But that seems strong to me.”
“There is now more competition and that offers opportunities. But nobody can relax. Hard work has to be done, because it is still possible to make mistakes. But indeed, a winner from Brabant could again.”
In addition to Van Kasteren, the Dutch father and son Van den Brink, also from Team de Rooy, are now in the picture for the overall victory. Other contenders include Czech truckers Aleš Loprais and Martin Macik and Chilean Ignacio Casale.
