The Dakar Rally has ended prematurely for Team Dust Warriors from Nieuw-Vennep. The grueling race demanded too much from their trucks. Captain of the team, Willem van Groningen, is disappointed. “It’s quite sour.”
The Dakar Rally started on Saturday, January 1, and will continue until January 14. The team has to stop the race almost a week earlier. “You live for six months to be allowed to drive it. You are making preparations with a lot of people, so that’s bad,” explains Van Groningen. Still, he and his team must remain realistic. “It remains a mechanical sport.”
According to Van Groningen, the cylinder liner is torn in the engine block of the truck. “Then it stops and you have to stop.” The entire engine has to be taken apart and they don’t have the resources to solve it on site.
Africa Eco Race
The bike will be repaired as soon as possible upon return so that they can participate in the Africa Eco Race in March. Because although the loss of participation in this Dakar Rally has not yet been fully processed, the following is still available rally for Team Dust Warriors again around the corner.
Watch the interview with Willem van Groningen below.