TRUCKS: MAGIC MACIK
The Czech Republic flag fluttering in the breeze above the Lac Rose is a classic image from the 1990s, an era synonymous with the Tatra driven by Karel Loprais, who picked up his last triumph in 2001. Back home, to pick up the torch, his countrymen were naturally counting on his nephew, Aleš Loprais, who has come near to triumph without ever obtaining consecration (3rd in 2007, 4th in 2015, 5th in 2019-21). In the end, it was Martin Macík who put his country back at the top of the truck category, with plenty of panache.
And yet, at first nobody had seemed able to beat Janus van Kasteren in the fight for the title, not even Aleš Loprais, his main rival last year before a premature exit. Loprais tried valiantly at the beginning of the race, but van Kasteren was always a step ahead. As for Macík, he took time to warm up.
After having been distanced by three quarters of an hour by the evening of stage 4, he displayed patience, waiting to pounce on his rivals’ slightest mistakes. As the saying goes, time comes to he who waits.
During the 48 HR Chrono stage, the sixth stage which was contested over two days and which Macík deemed to be the hardest out of his 12 participations on the Dakar, Loprais lost more than 1 hour in the dunes of the Empty Quarter. The sanction was almost three times as bad for van Kasteren, crushing the Dutchman’s hopes of defending his title. This propelled Macík to the top of the general rankings.
Behind the wheel of his faithful Iveco affectionately nicknamed ‘Cenda’, Macík featured in the top three for each of the stages since day five of the rally. With four stage wins under his belt and a lead of almost 2 hours on arrival in Yanbu, the crew of ‘Cenda’ ultimately enjoyed an untroubled second week of the race.
Source: A.S.O.
Photos: A.S.O./F.Gooden/DPPI
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.
