The Dakar crews are waiting for the final test
29.12.2020
Racing crews for the upcoming Dakar Rally arrived at the venue a week in advance. Band of technicians for all three racing trucks from the North Bohemian MKR Technology Center arrived as well. However, the final preparations before departure were full of nerves and tension brought in by strict measures related to coronavirus situation. From Sunday, the whole team is in a two-day quarantine, where it is waiting for final testing before entering the competition.
The team of mechanics led by designer Mario Kress from MKR Technology completed the first round of covid-19 tests in Roudnice nad Labem two days before Christmas Day. And it was with them that the first tension came. "I was the last to receive the results. I was getting nervous. In case of my positivity, everything would have to be shuffled around," Mario Kress, the head of the MKR Technology team, describes the dramatic moments before finally being confirmed as negative. However, one of the external collaborators did not pass through the network and had to be replaced immediately. "Everyone was instructed to refrain from any non-essential contacts, to be alone with their families during Christmas and, if possible, and to skip traditional meetings. Time was running out and looking for alternatives and replacements would be very difficult," said Mario Kress. One week earlier, team manager Lucie was tested positive. "In fact I was very lucky. I took tests, so I could referee women's hockey and they were positive. I had no symptoms, they did not come until a few days later, when my body ached and I subsequently lost my smell and taste. Thanks to that, I didn't really come into contact with the boys. The original plan was that I would be taking them to the airport, so this was lucky" said team manager Lucie Povová.
The team flew from Prague exactly according to plan with a Sunday special flight. It was a charter flight directly to Jeddah, where only the crew and its members heading for the Dakar were on board. As it turned out, it was a very smart move, which saved a lot of nerves to the team. Saudi Arabia closed its borders due to coronavirus in recent days and all scheduled flights have been canceled. However, the participants received an exception, so they could enter the country. Upon arrival, everyone began a two-day safety and health quarantine, followed by final testing. "Those who turn negative would go to pick up the racing equipment on Wednesday morning and will be admitted to the closed bivouac," said Mario Kress, who is very satisfied with organization so far.
The 43rd edition of the Dakar Rally will start on Saturday with an eleven-kilometer prologue in Jeddah, which will determine the starting position for Sunday's 1st stage. During the twelve racing stages, racing trucks will have to cover more than seven and a half thousand kilometers, of which 4,778 km are timed sections. The race will return again into Jeddah on Friday, January 15. The MKR Technology team sends a trio of trucks driven by Dutch drivers Gert Huzink, Pascal de Baar and Martin van den Brink. Onboard technician Daniel Kozlovský from Roudnice will be racing with Martin van den Brink.
