Into the desert with factory Can-Am team.

Mitchel van den Brink will be in action next week in the Dubai Baja. The event is part of the World Cup series. The Harskamper will be in action with a baby carriage of South Racing. That is the official factory team of Can-Am. Van den Brink will compete with the best rally drivers in the world. ,,It is a wonderful opportunity. We are very happy with that.''

The 22-year-old Van den Brink received, mainly on the advice of the experienced Dutch rally driver Erik van Loon, an invitation from the Portuguese team for the race in Dubai, which is run according to FIA regulations. ,,All the top drivers will be at the start. In the T3 class, for example, Nasser Al Attiyah and Mattias Ekström are also driving. We can show in equal material where we stand in relation to the absolute top.''

Mitchel van den Brink and 25-year-old navigator Bart van Heun from Nijverdal owe the invitation from the factory team mainly to their impressive performance in the Morocco Desert Challenge. In April, the duo was clearly a size too big for the competition in a Can-Am. The consistent and strong performance did not go unnoticed. ,,After we won for the second time in Morocco, Erik van Loon in particular brought us to the attention of the South Racing team. We are happy to have this opportunity.''

''I hope we can make our mark''

The Can-Am no longer holds any secrets for Van den Brink. ,,I spend about three months a year racing the baby carriage. The dunes in Dubai also really appeal to me. All stages in the Dubai Baja consist of sand and dunes. I hope we can make our mark.''
The South Racing team will enter the race with seven vehicles. In the past, the Portuguese team has seen several talents progress from the baby carriage class to the T1 category, the full-fledged rally cars, for example. “The latest big example is Seth Quintero. Through South Racing's Can-Am, he now drives for Toyota Gazoo Racing in a Toyota Hilux. And may he compete in the Dakar Rally against the likes of Nasser Al-Attiyah.''

This opportunity is a nice challenge''

For Mitchel van den Brink, the appearance in the Can-Am is separate from his activities with Eurol Rally Sport. ''We will continue to focus on the trucks next season. This opportunity is a nice challenge and you never know what doors it can open to the future. We would very much like to show ourselves in Dubai and after that the sights are fully set again on the Dakar Rally. A top ranking in Saudi Arabia is our first big goal. After that, we'll see.''
The Dubai Baja starts next Friday. ,,Three intense days in the desert. I'm really looking forward to it.''

Automatic translation of the Dutch version
Source: Eurol Rally Sport
Text: Berry Kamphorst
Photo: MMphoto