The withdrawal of Peru from the route of the Dakar Rally 2016 was bad news for Team Iveco Petronas De Rooy. The lack of dunes resulted in a consideration whether to go the hardest rally raid of the world in South America or to Africa, where the Africa Eco Race promised a menu of dunes. In close consultation with its partners Iveco and Petronas and after receiving more information from Dakar organisers ASO, Team De Rooy decided to choose for the Dakar Rally after all.
The team will participate in South America with at least three trucks in the race: Czech Ales Loprais and the Dutchmen Gerard de Rooy and Ton van Genugten. All three trucks will participate in the OiLibya Rally du Maroc in early October to prepare for the Dakar 2016.
“It is a shame there will be hardly any dunes in the route after the forced withdrawal of Peru,” frontman Gerard de Rooy explains. “My first reaction was: ‘What is the use of going there when there will not be dunes?’ I’ve been in close contact with ASO about their plans and they explained their effort to organise an alternative route. I truly appreciate that effort and I trust the new sporting director Marc Coma to know very well what is needed for a competitive race. From what ASO has told me, it looks to be quite selective after all, with as much sand as possible.
I have told them about my concerns – that there will not be enough space for the trucks to race, forcing us to make a train in the dust – and they assured me they will have a close look at that. All in all this convinced us and our partners Iveco and Petronas to go to South America, as the safety and competitiveness in Africa were quite an issue for all of us.”
As always the team has winning the Dakar as its goal. Gerard de Rooy won the rally in 2012, finished fourth in 2013 and second in 2014. In the last Dakar one day of major problems made him drop back to finish ninth overall.
Czech Ales Loprais finished fourth last January and is looking to at least equal his best result (third in 2007).
Dutchman Ton van Genugten finished eleventh in the 2015 edition and has his mind set on jumping into the top 10 with his Iveco.
