Dakar 2016: what you need to know about the participants
Posted on 01-01-2016 12:02 by Dizono – 22 Comments”
Tomorrow the most imaginative race in the world start again in Argentina. A good time to the participants under the Act. In particular, in the vrachtwagenklassement ‘we’ are strongly represented, but also Of Wages can in his Mini in for a surprise.
No, no spelling mistake in the intro, living rallylegende Sébastien Loeb is, in fact, for the first time to participate in the toughest and most dangerous car-/motor-/vrachtwagenrace in the world. Of course, as a driver and, equally naturally, he will take a seat behind the wheel of a Peugeot. It was with PSA-zustermerk that Loeb has 9 championships to his name knew how to write. And as a newbie have no titelfavoriet for Dakar, but it is certainly a not to be underestimated underdog.
Cars
Title contenders are well-known names such as Nasser Al-Attiyah in his Mini, Giniel de Villiers in a Toyota, Stephane Peterhansel in a Peugeot, with Carlos Sainz (you know, the father of Toro Rosso’s Carlos), also in a Peugeot, and Nani Roma, who in 2004 at the engine managed to win, but in the meantime, for 10 years on four wheels take part, with a victory in 2014 as the highlight. Among the outsiders at the cars we find, among others, Erik van Loon, who in 2015 is very creditable fourth in the overall classification for the cars and this year maybe see a podium can drive. Of course, it is also a seasoning Robby Gordon of the party.
Other Dutch participants in the car are Bernhard ten Brinke (7th last year), Maik Willems, Tom Coronel and his image, Tim, Peter Merceij, Ebert Dollevoet (in a Volvo V8-buggy) and Eelco Bekker.
Trucks
Traditionally ‘we’ Dutchmen the best with trucks, a legacy of the legendary DAF-factory team with Jan de Rooy as a big star. This year again, son Gerard, who of all Dutch people the best paper for the overall victory seems to have. He has already won once with his Iveco in 2012. Other contenders are Hans Stacey and Martin van den Brink. In total, there are 19 Dutch wedstrijdtrucks at the start, too many names to mention. Versluis, Lammers, De Baar and Offringa are some well-known names. Just like last year, unfortunately also, in 2016, Wuf van Ginkel is not more of the party.
The biggest competition for the Dutch truckers is, of course, again from Russia, the Kamaz trucks were in the last three years supreme with victory Karginov, Nikolaev and Mardeev, who all three again this year of the party. Underdogs are The Rooys team-mate Ales Loprais and the Tatra driver Martin Kolomy.
Engines
In the Dakar a very important ranking, but traditionally know Dutch on the engine, not too many pots to break. A tradition that Frans Verhoeven in the last few years, moreover, quite at the checkout, he has since 2009 been four stages to his name know to write. In 2014 he fell, however, while he last year due to technical problems was a 15th place in the overall standings. It was the plan to a point behind his Dakar career, but luckily for us he has that again today. Other sounding Dutch names on two wheels, Hans Vogels, Robert van Pelt and Jurgen van den Goorbergh. And, of course, Hans-Jos Liefhebber, all we know that especially the nice interviews. Dutch heroine Mirjam Pol, we must also, in 2016, unfortunately miss. In total there are eighteen Dutch bikers and two quad riders.
The battle for the overall victory is likely to be between Goncalves, Price, Quintanilla, Svitko, Barreda, Rodrigues, Faria, Casteu, Pain and Viladoms. Quite a list, but the motorklassement is often up to the last day exciting and the top 10 is often situated close to each other. Big missing is, incidentally, Marc Coma, last year’s first across the line.