Koen Wauters and Tom De Leeuw (Toyota Hilux) finished the final stage of the Fenix Rally on Thursday afternoon as the second fastest car. In the overall classification, Koen and Tom ended up fourth, just shy of the podium.
Seven days ago, Feryn Dakar Sport started the Fenix Rally with two Toyotas. Pascal Feryn and Kurt Keysers (Toyota Hilux) were forced to retire on Saturday due to a high-pressure power steering line failure. Koen Wauters and Tom De Leeuw had a strong start to the rally until Sunday, when they suffered two punctures and got stuck four times. A podium finish remained within reach until the penultimate stage, but in the end, the duo secured fourth place among the cars and tenth overall.
With the Africa Eco Race ahead, this Fenix Rally proved to be a very useful and enjoyable event.
“At the start, the organizer said that anyone who can finish this rally raid is ready for events like the Africa Eco Race or even the Dakar. I have to agree with him,” said Koen Wauters. “At first, we didn’t really know what to expect. Now I can say that, if my schedule allows, I’d gladly return. It was a tough rally, and we learned a lot about the car. We know its weak spots, and they’ll be addressed in the coming weeks. Navigation was quite challenging too, but Tom did an excellent job. As for my own driving, I’m satisfied — although that turn yesterday could have been taken a bit better,” Koen added with a smile.
The final stage is traditionally a shortened one without much impact on the results, but even here, the Fenix Rally proved to be the exception.
“It was indeed only about 80 kilometers, but it required full attention. Early in the rally, the organization had to intervene because parts of the route were flooded and impassable after heavy rain. Today we saw the extent of that damage. The first 26 kilometers were barely drivable — sections of the road were washed away, the track was extremely rough, and there was hardly room for one car. On top of that, navigation was very tricky. I took it easy there, then simply drove to the finish without taking risks. After an exhausting week, we finish fourth. Sunday’s stage was decisive, with two punctures among other setbacks. The body also took some heavy hits — I can still feel them today. All things considered, we’re happy with this fourth place. The team worked well, we had fun, and we’re ready for the Africa Eco Race,” concluded Koen Wauters.
Official press release
Disclaimer:
As a service to the sport we all love and follow, Rally-Raid Network posts numerous media releases from a wide variety of sources on our website. Due to the large number, and some times short time available, it is nearly impossible to review each public release. These articles are written by reporters or press officers who work for various organizers, teams, drivers, riders, and other parties, and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rally-Raid Network.
