Anniversary Dakar starts with 3 MKR Technology trucks

6.1.2018

Renowned Dakar is here! Anniversary 40th edition of the most famous long distance race in the world will start this weekend. Nine thousand kilometres is waiting for the racers and they will travel from Peru through Bolivia over to Argentina. Three north-bohemian Renault Trucks teams from MKR Technology centre are ready at the starting line as well.

                  „It is true to say that we have not enjoyed much the New Year celebrations because we were flying over to Dakar the very same night. There we had to take over all the machinery, because it gets a big load at the ferry. The most important thing is that everything is working as it should and all we have to do is to wait for the race to unfold. We are all very excited, “ Mario Kress, lead designer of the race trucks and father of the MKR Adventure project stated his feelings.

                  In Peru, where the whole race will start, complete MKR Technology service team is waiting. It will take care for its three race trucks. The Dutch pilots Martin van den Brink, with Daniel Kozlovský, an experienced technician from Roudnice, will be riding one of the trucks. These men will race in Renault Trucks CBH 385 special with race number 506, which is widely known as Sherpa. In the second truck, cab-over-engine version of the K520 with number 531, 31year-old Adrianus Johannes van Kasteren will be on his first Dakar. He will serve mainly as a quick assistance for Martin van den Brink. Both crews race in Mammoet Rallysport team. Third K520 truck Mario Kress prepared for Gerd Huzink from Riwald Dakar team. The team has number 517. „My task will be to stay as close as possible to Martin van den Brink and help in case he needs it and I really hope I can make it. I t will not be easy but the team has assured me, that I am not expected to finish in the front part of the field. So the only thing I have to do is to stay calm and enjoy the ride, because this Renault Truck is just unbelievable,” rookie Janus van Kasteren is excited.

                  The anniversary 40^th edition has two anniversaries at a time. It is the tenth edition in South America. 14 race stages are scheduled, 9000 kilometres in total, special sections are better part of this distance. 7 stages are completely in the dunes and the teams will spend five days at an altitude over 3000 meters. During two weeks they will enjoy one rest day and one marathon stage as well, when the crews will be on their own for two days. Two-week journey will start this Saturday and finish two weeks later in Cordóba in Argentina. In the starting town Lima, Peru the racers will start in the sand right away. The first stage to Pisco is 273 km, where the special sections are 30 km long. „All the machinery is working, mood is great and we all believe, that it will remain the same way for another two weeks, “ Mario Kress is excited about the anniversary edition.