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Dakar 2025: Participation in Dakar 2025 not possible for Jongbloed Dakar Team due to new FIA rules for hybrid trucks
ENSCHEDE - OLDENZAAL, November 19, 2024 - In 2024 Jongbloed Fiscaal Juristen N.V., after more than 10 years, took over from Riwald Dakar team. In 2025, the team would appear at the start with 2 hybrid trucks.
The team would also be strengthened in terms of sponsorship by Kuipers Logistics from Oldenzaal. Kuipers Logistics and Jongbloed Fiscaal Juristen joined forces and had committed themselves as name givers to the team around drivers Gert Huzink and Kay Huzink (the son of the late Richard Huzink, who was the first Huzink to drive the Dakar) from 2025. Two beautiful companies from Twente that put down an even more beautiful Dakar team.
It is with regret that the Kuipers-Jongbloed Hybrid Dakar Team must announce that it will not participate in the 2025 Dakar Rally. The team had been preparing to compete with two innovative hybrid trucks. However, due to recently modified rules from the international FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), which require hybrid trucks to comply with the same rules as hybrid cars, it is not technically feasible to make these modifications in time.
Although the team has been fully committed to sustainable and innovative participation, the new requirements for hybrid trucks are not technically applicable to the heavy vehicles developed specifically for this rally. Despite several discussions with the FIA (and help from the Dakar organization), it has emerged that the regulations cannot be adjusted in the short term. As a result, participation of the Kuipers-Jongbloed Hybrid Dakar Team in 2025 is unfortunately not possible.
Gert Huzink, driver of the team, reacts with disappointment, “We were looking forward to taking part in the Dakar Rally again and further demonstrate our work with hybrid technology. But with the new regulations, this is now technically impossible for us. However, we remain firm in our commitment to sustainable rallying and continue to work on technological innovations for future participations.”
The sponsors, Kuipers Logistics and Jongbloed Tax Lawyers, remain behind the team and share the commitment to sustainable innovation. “Despite this unexpected obstacle, as a Twente team we remain committed to a green and innovative future in rallying. We look forward to returning to the start in future editions of the Dakar Rally as soon as regulations allow,” said Dennis Jongbloed and Harry Kuipers.
The Kuipers-Jongbloed Hybrid Dakar Team is known for pioneering sustainability within the rallying world. With its focus on hybrid technologies and innovation, the team represents a forward-thinking approach in rallying, said Martijn te Riet (partner at Jongbloed) and Philip Vollenbroek ( co-owner at Kuipers). How cool it would have been that two companies with Twente roots would be active in the toughest rally in the world and, in addition, as the only “family team” with a Hybrid truck.... We now have to focus on 2026, with pain in our hearts.
Automatic translation of the Dutch version
Source: 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦
Helder