Unveiling Grit: Gert Huzink's Dakar Rally Expedition Marked by Challenges and Tenacity

18.1.2024

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Yanbu, January 18, 2024-Aiming for a triumphant hat trick, Gert Huzink faced a challenging eleventh stage in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. The renowned truck driver from the Jongbloed Dakar Team, who had clinched victory in stages nine and ten, encountered a series of setbacks on Thursday, ultimately crossing the finish line in twentieth place.

Reflecting on the demanding stage, Huzink, speaking from the bivouac in Yanbu, emphasized the difficulty of the test. Remarkably, he wasn't alluding to his back, which he had injured the previous day in a collision with a hole. Despite the back strain, Huzink persevered, relying on painkillers for relief.

However, Thursday's challenges predominantly stemmed from technical issues. Early on in the arduous 480-kilometer special, Huzink, starting first, identified a defect in the cardan shaft of the Renault truck. This setback limited the vehicle to rear-wheel drive, likely the result of a forceful impact with a substantial boulder. The steering rod was also damaged, complicating the truck's navigation through the challenging terrain.

Facing the obstacles, Huzink conceded, "We had to accept that it would be a tough day." A fortunate turn of events occurred when Huzink, along with navigator Rob Buursen and mechanic Martin Roesink, successfully straightened the bent handlebars, allowing them to continue with aligned wheels.

Despite the stroke of luck, the team grappled with the repercussions of rear-wheel drive, making climbs difficult and resulting in several instances of getting stuck. The time loss amounted to three hours, twelve minutes, and one second compared to the stage winner, Ales Loprais in his Praga V4S DKR.

Resilient in their determination to finish, Huzink commented, "We have to cross the finish line to be able to cross the podium tomorrow. We would have liked to get that hat-trick." The disappointment was palpable as the team acknowledged the impossibility of achieving extraordinary feats in the remaining stages.

Huzink, expressing his disappointment, stated, "I'm here to win. The end goal was the podium. We had to adjust that to daily results. That's how the Dakar game works, and you have to accept that. In any case, we have shown that the speed is good." Despite the setbacks, the team remains focused on driving to the finish and maintaining a resilient spirit in the face of the Dakar Rally challenges. 

Results – Stage 11 - AlUla - Yanbu (480 km):

1. Loprais (CZE) Praga 05:18:50
2. Macik (CZE) Iveco +00:05:07
3. Valtr (CZE) Tatra +00:31:49
4. de Baar (NLD) Iveco +00:34:40
5. van Kasteren (NLD) Iveco +00:40:21
20. Huzink (NLD) Renault +03:12:01

Overall 1.

Macik (CZE) Iveco 52:31:44
2. Loprais (CZE) Praga +02:01:01
3. Mit. van den Brink (NLD)+04:27:25
4. van Kasteren (NLD) Iveco +05:26:42
5. Versteijnen (NLD) Iveco +10:51:19
12. Huzink (NLD) Renault +61:07:42 

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