Trucker Janus van Kasteren from Veldhoven is currently ruling the toughest rally in the world. On Sunday he won the second stage, the special over 463 kilometers, in the 2024 Dakar Rally. With this he recorded his third victory in a row. He previously won the prologue on Friday and the first stage on Saturday in the truck classification.
As leader of the rankings, Van Kasteren was also allowed to start first. That is not necessarily an advantage in the Dakar Rally because you often have to make the first tracks in the sand. Those left behind can follow this trail and make up time.
But the competition once again proved to be no match for the driving skills of the Veldhoven resident. Van Kasteren kept the Czechs Ales Loprias and Martin Macek behind him. However, the difference with number 2 was only six seconds.
He already won the truck rally last year and now seems well on his way to extending that title. “I’m now immediately in the minds of those other guys. They must think ‘he’s first again’.”
The Dakar Rally is held in Saudi Arabia. The second stage went from Al Henakiyah to Al Duwadimi, straight through the desert over sand dunes of more than a hundred meters high. The Dakar Rally ends on Friday, January 19.
THIS IS HOW THE FIRST STAGE WENT:
Van Kasteren wins first stage Dakar: ‘Now continue with eleven more stages’