Koen Wauters and Kurt Keysers (Toyota Hilux) crossed the finish line on their World Cup debut in the Rally of Morocco, although a problem with fuel pressure almost threw a spanner in the works on the final stage. In the end, they finished 79th overall and 27th in the final stage. In the final standings, they finished 54th overall, 24th car and 2nd in the T1.1 class.
A race only ends when the team makes it to the finish line. Ei so after things still went wrong for Koen Wauters in the last 60 km of the Rally of Morocco. “We were a little tight on fuel and so we got an extra ton as a precaution,” said Koen Wauters. “At 50 km from the finish the engine dropped dead. After waiting a while we got it running again. During the last 39 km, the car stalled six times. A problem with fuel pressure probably due to different gasoline. But all's well that ends well. On our World Cup debut, we cross the finish line and are even second in our class. Two flat tires, one during the prologue and therefore at a very bad time, is the only thing we really experienced. The time loss in the fesh fesh is actually a race fact. It was a little unfortunate because we were just on an advance and then you get pulled back down. Regardless of the result, we came to Morocco to have fun. And whether we did.”
Between all the top riders and factory teams, Feryn Dakar Sport's assistance truck parked daily. “At the beginning of this year we participated in the Africa Eco Race,” says Koen Wauters. “There we ran at the front and in the end Pascal Feryn won the race in the cars. Here in Morocco it was a different level. The difference with the world top is mega. Once in a while one of those top drivers gets something wrong. You see them standing at the side of the track only to fly past you at full speed about an hour later. It is sometimes impossible to understand. It was fantastic that we could be part of that caravan for a week. The pace here was a lot higher than what I am used to. Besides being fun, it was a learning experience. Finally, a special word of thanks to the five people who gave the best of themselves here on site and to my co-pilot Kurt. He was a fantastic guide. Merci, merci, merci.”
Kurt Keysers has been running in rally racing and at Feryn Dakar Sport for many years. “It was a great to participate in this race together with Koen,” said Kurt Keysers. “It was also fun to drive at this level for once. It was more than impressive. When you see what is at the start here and when you compare that to our car, all you can say is that we did very well. I enjoyed it, even though I cursed a few times when we didn't find the waypoint or didn't get to it. But doing crazy things to absolutely tick off that waypoint, we didn't. In one week, I did get a little older. The body takes a lot of hits. But look, it's over. I miss it already.”
Automatic translation of the Dutch version
Source: Feryn Dakar Sport
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