Dakar in its 4th stage tried to stop Czech truck as well.

10.1.2018

Anniversary 40th edition of The Dakar is extremely difficult. Even the biggest favourites are fighting with its traps. Dakar ended prematurely for many teams. Fourth racing day tried to drop out north-bohemian truck designed by MKR Technology as well. While Gerd Huzink finished on a fantastic fifth position, van den Brink perforated his oil tank and is trying to find a way out of the dunes. Even quick assistance with van Kasteren could not tow him to bivouac. The teams are not giving up and are trying to keep fighting.

            “This Dakar is really extreme. It is both test of machinery and our physical and mental abilities. Everybody has problems. This time it was us, who was unlucky,” Mario Kress, lead designer of Renault Trucks, is describing current situation in South America.

            However, 4th stage with both start and finish line in San Juan de Marcona started for all three truck from northern Bohemia very well. All of them were in the top ten. But after last sixth way Mammoet Rallysport trucks have stopped. “Martin van den Brink during one of bigger jumps perforated his oil tank. Then he stayed strayed in the dunes. Quick assistance with Janus van Kasteren tried to get him out of there. But the dunes are extreme. We are not able to tow him away on our own so we are waiting for a miracle,“  Mario Kress added.

            Czech driver Aleš Loprais got into much similar situation and spent the night in the dunes. Dakar makes no exceptions. Russian leader Nikolaev tackled the 4th stage the best. He has covered three hundred thirty kilometres long special section in four and half hours. Second-placed Argentinian Villagra lost almost half an hour. Villagra is in silver position in overall standings as well. North-bohemian driver Gerd Huzink finished on 5th position and moved to 12th position overall.

            Fifth day the teams will go through longest stage of this year - 934 kilometres from San Juan de Marcona to Arequipo. But special sections are just 268 km. “Both of our cab-over-engine trucks with Huzink and van Kasteren are ready for the stage. What will happen with Martin we don’t know at the moment, but we will keep fighting until the last moment,” Mario Kress, leader of MKR Adventure project, is not losing hope.