This year’s Dakar Rally will be more exciting than ever for the trucks. Kamaz’s four Russian trucks are not participating because the team did not want to renounce the war. This opens the way for a Brabant final victory, but nothing seems certain in this special edition of the rally.
There has been little tension with the trucks in the Dakar Rally in recent years. That the Russians were going to be number one to four was a certainty. There was often more tension behind that, but then it was about ‘only’ a fifth place.
That fifth place was last year for Janus van Kasteren. The driver from Eindhoven is going all out for victory this year and is looking forward to the battle without the Russians. “Yes, beautiful, is not it! The atmosphere this year is very different. Everyone wants to compete for the top spots. That creates extra mutual tensions.”
“I will always help my teammates, because 100 meters further you may need it yourself.”
Ben van de Laar also expects a great battle and is especially curious about who will take over the role of the Russian trucks. “You were always pushed extra to keep up with the Russians. As a result, the speed was always high. I wonder who will take the lead now.”
At Team de Rooy everyone seems to be a contender for a podium place. And so there will suddenly be competition with each other. Will that cause problems? “No,” says Van Kasteren. “From the beginning I was in favor of always helping each other. In my eyes there is no leader. I will always help my teammates, because 100 meters further you may need it yourself.”
“PSV also does not deliberately score an own goal against Ajax.”
But not only the Dutch are aiming for a podium place. There are also plenty of Czech contenders for the overall victory. Ales Loprais is one of the favorites for the overall victory. “Everyone is equal this Dakar Rally. It’s going to be an interesting battle.”
Van Kasteren will in any case stop for teammates, but what if one of his Czech competitors stands still? “Then I drive very fast and cheer one more time. I want to be first and then I will not help them. PSV does not score an own goal against Ajax on purpose.”
Omroep Brabant publishes a new episode of Bivouac Brabant Dakar every day at 8 p.m. on YouTube and on the website. Sunday’s episode can be viewed below.
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