HAIL - A week of alternating successes and setbacks has given Team de Rooy FPT a turbulent first week in the Dakar Rally. Halfway through, one thing is clear: the Ivecos of the three crews are in top form, but bad luck is sometimes hard to avoid. At least during the rest day in Hail, the atmosphere in the team was positive and the crew members were optimistic.-
“The cars had a major service today. Tomorrow, they will be ready for the second half of the Dakar Rally”, said team manager Henk van Leuven in the bivouac. “Despite the setbacks, we are optimistic and satisfied with the first week.”
Perseverance
Aleš Loprais won the third stage and truck debutant Vaidotas Žala was second. And Anja van Loon was fourth on the second day of the marathon stage on Thursday. Unfortunately, there was also bad luck, but De Rooy FPT is all about perseverance.
“The teams know that setbacks are part of the game. The courage is there. Loprais says he will continue to fight for a top position, Žala is aiming for a place in the top five and Anja wants to continue like this.”
Overall, Van Leuven has noticed the excellent atmosphere between the three crews within Team de Rooy FPT. “Every year, we have a team with absolute top mechanics. But this year, there is also an excellent relationship between the men themselves. The teams help each other out with other cars when needed. As a team manager, I don't even have to ask for it.”
Bring it on
And so, during the second week, there was a ‘bring it on’ feeling at Team de Rooy FPT. “We are optimistic for the second half of the Dakar. Macík has a big lead, but it is not yet certain that he will win the Dakar.”
Van Leuven: “A big lead can disappear like snow in half a day. We don’t begrudge anyone setbacks, but bad luck can also happen to Macík. That’s rallying, that’s Dakar. And the race is not over until the last day. It's far from over.”
Source: Team de Rooy FPT
Photo: A.S.O./J.Lindini
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