MKR heading for their second Dakar

19.11.2015

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There’s no going back. The north-Bohemia based MKR Technology team have set off for their second Dakar. On Thursday all technology boarded a ferry and sailed off to South America. The farewell was as big as the expectations we have about the upcoming year of the rally. After all, it was our truck that helped Martin van den Brink win the rehearsal race - the OiLibya Rally.

“We need to restrain our emotions somewhat. Technology may be in a perfect shape but as far as the development goes, we are still treading that path, we haven’t reached the finishing line to be thinking about a win. We’ve gone a long way since last year but considering our ambition, we have to stay down-to-earth. Our goal is a top-ten ranking, giving hard time to the best teams. Anything better than that would be a cherry on top. The Dakar is long, tough and there are times when rather than technology, it is the luck that decides,“ pointed out the MKR Adventure’s boss Mario Kress.

The departure of the north-Bohemian specials was preceded by several grand goodbyes. Last week the Dutch participants of the upcoming Dakar met in Valkenswaardu, Netherlands, at the traditional GP Dakar Pre-Prolog event. Spectators at Eurocircuit Valkenswaard had the opportunity to meet not only bike riders, quads and racing trucks there. Neither the Mammot Rallysport specials’ pilots could miss the occasion, just like the former winner of the world’s toughest rally Gérard de Rooy with his team mate Aleš Loprais. The opening ceremony of the next rally was attended by more than twenty thousand fans, which only proves the attractiveness of distance rallies for the people of the Netherlands.

Last weekend was the time for the Mammoet team to bid farewell to Martin van den Brink and Pascal de Baar directly at their hometown of Harskamp. Right afterwards, the technology was taken to the French Le Havre port for the anticipated takeovers and final boarding. It will be several weeks before the ferry reaches Argentina, where the team will pick the technology up and move it to Buenos Aires for the 2nd January start of the 38th year of the legendary distance rally. MKR Technology is going to compete with two Renault trucks of its own. Martin van den Brink and Pascal de Baar are going to race under numbers 509 and 529, respectively. Having formed alliance with the Bonver Dakar Project, for whom Mario Kress and his gang constructed two racing powertrains, the Dutch pilots and the Czech racing team are going to enjoy mutual support. “Our competitors are even stronger this time. We’re gonna go head to head not only with the Kamazes, but I have a firm belief that technically, we’re very well prepared, and it’s not set in stone that it won’t be us who’ll take home the beduin,“ commented Mario Kress with an impish wink.

In comparison with the previous year, route of the upcoming Dakar Rally is going to take the crews to Argentina and Bolivia only, as Chile has been left out. We’ll get to know the winners at the finishing line in Buenos Aires on the 16th January.

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