With the rest day just around the corner, Dakar Rally competitors still had a long day crossing the dunes. Stage six delivered Kuipers-Jongbloed Hybrid an outstanding fifth place for Kay Huzink in his MKR Renault rally truck, race number 616. Working in perfect harmony with navigator Rob Buursen and mechanic Gait Schoneveld, he continued his strong run of form brilliantly in the dunes as well. After the 325-kilometre special stage, they conceded just over 45 minutes to the day’s winner, Aleš Loprais of the Czech Republic. In the overall standings, Kay, Rob and Gait hold a solid sixth place.
A thorough preparation programme for Dakar has paid off so far. Over the past two years, Kay has completed multiple training sessions in Poland and Morocco, and has also competed in several rallies. Last year’s Morocco Desert Challenge was even won, and until a crash in the Rallye du Maroc, Kay had also shown he was made of the right stuff. His physical preparation has ensured he is extremely fit as well. Despite all the positive signs, expectations have been exceeded to date — not least because the crew combination in the truck is clicking perfectly. The chemistry between Kay, Rob and Gait grows stronger every day, and everything is falling into place. Kay reflected on today’s stage:
“We’ve finished stage six. I think we did 230 kilometres of dunes. Very hard work, but we managed to find a nice flow and surfed smoothly over the crests. Rob coached incredibly well today, and Gait did a fantastic job every time with the tyre pressures. Real teamwork today. We had to drive the last thirty kilometres in the dark and lost about five minutes searching for the finish. We also had a speeding penalty and got five minutes added for that. We’ll gladly take that today.”
Experienced navigator Rob Buursen spent years alongside Gert Huzink in the truck and is now using all that experience to support Kay. Mechanic Gait Schoneveld is also throwing himself into his role with full commitment. Like Rob, he can rely on a strong base of experience within the team. The trio’s enjoyment is clear to see. Rob confirms things are going smoothly in the cab of truck number 616:
“It’s going great and we’re having a lot of fun. And Kay is a real talent. He can drive with intelligence. The truck is still practically new. We’ve had absolutely nothing — only one puncture.”
After a long and intense first week of the Dakar Rally, the truck crew will be able to catch their breath tomorrow. The team’s bivouac mechanics, however, won’t have that luxury, as they must work hard to bring both trucks into top condition for the start of week two. Much of that effort will go into the truck of Gert Huzink, Hugo Kupper and Mario Kress. The issue with the non-functioning four-wheel drive has still not been resolved and is proving more stubborn than hoped. Nevertheless, the team remains optimistic about getting truck number 609 back into action in the second part of the rally.
The race resumes on Sunday with a long stage from Riyadh to Wadi Ad Dawasir. For now, Kuipers-Jongbloed Hybrid close out a turbulent first week in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, with a strong sense of pride.
Source: Kuipers-Jongbloed Hybrid
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