Paul Spierings from Sint-Michielsgestel is the surprise of the Dakar Rally. In Saudi Arabia he is at the top of the rankings in the buggies and even wrote history by winning the second stage. His success does not come out of the blue and is part of a plan: “The highest step of the podium is really a dream.”
Hands went up, fists clenched and the embrace with his navigator Jan-Pieter van der Stelt was firm and full of adrenaline. Driver Paul Spierings made history last week by becoming the first Dutchman in a buggy to win a stage in the Dakar Rally with his team. “I have goosebumps all over my body,” he said afterwards.
You can see whether he also had goosebumps after Tuesday’s stage in Bivouac Brabant Dakar:
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Because the victory is a dream come true for Spierings. And certainly no coincidence, because through a new partnership with Rebellion from driver Alexandre Pesci, he has taken a huge step forward with his equipment. A result of years of hard work and part of a plan to keep improving.
“As long as I can breathe and fight, I will go for the best.”
“I am a go-getter,” says the Brabant driver. “Not in the past at school, but I did with sports. I either do this well or I don’t. Otherwise I think it’s a waste of energy and money. I never stand still and as long as I breathe and can fight, I go for it best.”
It all started for Paul Spierings in 2019 on the motorcycle. The adventure of experiencing the toughest rally in the world played a leading role. But to reinforce his ambition and drive for performance, and for more safety, he switched to the buggy after three years. His team got better and bigger and bigger every year after that.

“I used to fly to the Dakar Rally with a trolley suitcase and then get on the motorcycle there,” he says. “Now I arrange everything myself and we are here with two buggies, a press car, a racing truck for assistance, a service truck, a truck converted into a hotel and our own catering.”
“I’m living my dreams and can now really compete with the big boys.”
And that is very clever, because the ex-construction worker also arranges the finances himself. His sponsorship base is impressive. “It’s gotten a bit out of hand,” says the driver, who is actually also team boss. “But if you have a lot of passion and a goal, you will achieve this. I am chasing my dreams and can now really compete with the big boys.”
Paul Spierings is Brabant’s hope in anxious days, because now that Janus van Kasteren is no longer participating in the trucks, there is no real contender for a final victory for the time being. “I ultimately want to be on the highest step of the podium,” he concludes. “But then I also have to have some luck, because of course it remains a mechanical sport and everything can break. But it is really a dream.”
