From Challenges to Cheers: Gert Huzink's Dakar Rally Resurgence
14.1.2024
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Alo Duwadimi, January 14, 2024 - Gert Huzink's journey in the Dakar Rally's longest stage (873 kilometers) on Sunday had its highs and lows, concluding with a mixed bag of experiences for the truck driver of the Jongbloed Dakar Team in the Saudi bivouac in Al Duwadimi.
Later that evening, Huzink received unexpected news from ASO, the organizer, stating that he and eight other teams were reinstated in the official competition rankings despite missing numerous waypoints during the challenging sixth stage in the fabulous Empty Quarter.
Expressing his satisfaction, Huzink shared, "We are officially participating again," though he remained in the dark about the reasons, stating, "I do not know." Regardless, the driver welcomed the pleasant coincidence, understanding that the final classification was no longer a feasible goal due to significant deficits.
Sunday's seventh stage brought additional challenges, as Huzink recounted, "It started with a rocky test, a lot of stones. Lots of dust too. But we were right on time in the beginning." However, fuel problems surfaced, causing a setback that took an hour to resolve. Navigating through the dunes in pitch darkness and dealing with a broken reaction rod added to the day's difficulties.
Huzink highlighted the tough conditions, stating, "It wasn't easy, the dunes were tough. We helped a few trucks that were stuck and pulled a few cars free." The Renault truck suffered damage, and navigating with only the truck's light proved challenging, resulting in repeated attempts on the same path and significant time losses.
The consequence is a major disadvantage for Huzink, starting at the back in the next stage. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic, saying, "That will be hard work again. I overtook a lot of trucks this morning, but if you have problems yourself, you hand everything in again." The anticipation is for a smoother eighth stage on Monday, possibly leading to a more favorable outcome.
Results – Stage 7 - Riyadh – Alo Duwadimi (483 km):
1. Macik (CZE) Iveco +05:40:52
2. Mit. van den Brnk (NLD) Iveco +00:00:39
3. Loprais (CZE) Praga +00:19:28
4. Versteijnen (NLD) Iveco +00:39:40
5. de Baar (NLD) Tatra +01:01:23
16. Huzink (NLD) Renault +02:59:15
Overall
1. Macik (CZE) Iveco 34:40:10
2. Loprais (CZE) Praga +01:36:10
3. Mit. van den Brnk (NLD) Iveco +01:50:38
4. van Kasteren (NLD) Iveco +03:47:10
5. Versteijnen (NLD) Iveco +06:55:26
12. Huzink (NLD) Renault +54:44:45
