Team De Rooy will be at the start of the Dakar Rally 2022 with four brand new trucks, with an all-Dutch lineup, divided between two teams. Petronas Team De Rooy Iveco consists of Janus van Kasteren jr, Hans Stacey and Mitchel van den Brink, Mammoet Team De Rooy Iveco is represented by Martin van den Brink. With this strong composition, a mix of experience and young talent, Team De Rooy wants to make a serious bid for the podium places in Saudi Arabia.
The return of Hans Stacey - after an absence of five years - and the arrival of Martin van den Brink in the team can safely be described as surprising. This was preceded by a turbulent and emotional period. With Van Kasteren and Van den Brink junior, and Ton van Genugten and Federico Villagra, the line-up was initially complete.
The tragic death of Ton van Genugten hit both physically and mentally a big hole. Around the same time it became clear that Argentine Federico Villagra had to withdraw. Gerard de Rooy then contacted Martin van den Brink.
"I was asked to drive for the team after the death of Ton. I found the request emotional, but also honorable,'' says the 51-year-old van den Brink. "I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by. Next to the Kamaz factory team, De Rooy is the team with the most experience."
That his son Mitchel was already part of Team De Rooy is a nice additional reason for Van den Brink.
"It is a great opportunity for both me and my son for the future. De Rooy gives young drivers like Mitchel, but also Janus van Kasteren a chance. That's great. I also want to look further and Mitchel gets the opportunity to develop further."
Martin van den Brink forms the 'orange team' within Team De Rooy and will start under the flag of Mammoet Rallysport Team De Rooy Iveco, with the Iveco Powerstar. He will be assisted on board by navigator Peter Willemsen and mechanic Bernard der Kinderen.
Janus van Kasteren jr, Hans Stacey and Mitchel van den Brink form the 'green team', under the banner Petronas Team De Rooy Iveco. Hans Stacey had inquired at an earlier stage with his cousin Gerard de Rooy whether there was a Powerstar 'left'.
"That wasn't the case then, but after Villagra's cancellation it was. It's an unexpectedly nice development to be able to drive the Dakar in three continents."
With Hans Stacey, Team De Rooy brings one of the most experienced (eleven participations) and successful participants in Dutch Dakar history to the start, with a victory (2007) and two podium finishes (2006, 2012) on his record.
"The drive to drive Dakar again has always been there. The race in Saudi Arabia particularly attracts me and with a good truck I can still be competitive, despite five years of absence. I'm fit and motivated,"
says the 62-year-old Stacey, who can be found twice a week in Erik van Loon's gym, with Ton van Genugten and others until recently.
Stacey will be joined in the Petronas Team De Rooy Iveco Powerstar by navigator Anton van Limpt, also a training buddy, who was initially going to go with Van Genugten, and mechanic Randy Smits, for whom it will be the first Dakar in a competition truck.
Janus van Kasteren jr was already part of Team De Rooy two years ago. Together with navigator Marcel Snijders and mechanic Darek Rodewald, he will drive the Petronas team's other Powerstar.
"It's cool to compete with a complete Dutch team, with four strong drivers," thinks the 35-year-old Van Kasteren. "With even a Dakar winner included! We know each other well and are ambitious as a team. I hope we can work well together. The new Powerstar is really a step forward. I'm really looking forward to it."
Mitchel van den Brink drove a Dakar for the first time himself last January, after gaining experience as a mechanic with his father Martin the year before. As a fast assistant in Team De Rooy, behind the wheel of the Iveco Trakker in Petronas livery, the bar is set a little higher again for him.
"The pace will have to pick up a little to stay close to those other three, but with the Iveco it can be done," analyzes the 19-year-old Van den Brink.
"To get used to the speed, I have recently gained experience with the Mitsubishi EVO. Getting the truck to the finish line safely every day, staying close to the other three and providing assistance where necessary is a challenging task, but one I'm looking forward to with great anticipation. With Richard Mouw and Bert Donkelaar I have two experienced men on board, both of whom can also tinker well."
Next week, in preparation for the Dakar Rally 2022, the entire team will test with all four race trucks in Morocco. On 20 November the team and the trucks will be presented to the public at the Dakar Pre-Prologue at the Duynenwater Estate (the former E3 beach) in Eersel.
Automatic translation from the official press release
Source Team De Rooy
