Flames instead of stage victory

5.10.2022

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If anyone can talk about real bad luck, it's pilot Gert Huzink. It seemed that he would finally celebrate the desired victory in the 3rd stage of the Rallye Morocco, but just six kilometers before the finish line, his truck was turned into flames. Tears of joy were replaced by tears of desperation. But the Dutch pilot of the North Bohemian Renault does not give up.

The pilot of the Dutch team Riwald Dakar, who is driving the hybrid special truck from the workshop of the North Bohemian design team MKR Technology, got off to an excellent start in the three hundred kilometer race loop with start and finish in Laayoune. He very quickly got to the front of the race and maintained the first position virtually until the very end. He passed the overall leader of the general classification, Martin Macík, already in the first dunes. Despite the pitfalls and the need to change tires, both crews managed to change positions several more times and have undertaken an attractive battle on the course. Huzink came out better from the Czech fight and aimed for the coveted first place. This time, however, luck was not on his side. As if the podium should only belong to him "every other" stage. The Dutchman was silver in the prologue, then a stop came due to a damaged rear axle, in the previous stage he took silver again, and in Tuesday's 3rd stage, instead of gold, flames and another stop came. Smoke came from the side of the truck just six kilometers before the finish line. The crew stopped and was able to extinguish the burning truck. But the fire damaged several electrical cables. While the Dutchman Koolen finally rejoiced at the victory, Gert Huzink crossed the finish line almost an hour and a half later.

Czech pilot Martin Macík remains in the lead. Although Huzink is ranked seventh in the current classification with a noticeable loss due to the penalty from the opening stage, his participation in the next stages is questionable. "If there is a chance that the truck can be fixed and we can get on the start, then we will continue to fight like hell. We won't give up for free," Gert Huzink is determined.

Wednesday's penultimate 4th stage from Laayoune to Tan Tan is the longest stage of this year's Rally Morocco. The crews have to cover a total of 561 kilometers, including 346 of timed sections.

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