Dakar 2023: Final report - Trucks, Van Kasteren blasts into the history books

Janus van Kasteren ended six years of undisputed Russian hegemony to add his name in the annals and bring Iveco's total to three Dakar victories. As usual in the most prestigious rally raid on Earth, it's consistency wot won it.

Martin Macík did his best, winning the first two specials, but a brake problem in stage 2 cost him the lead. Van Kasteren, driving with Darek Rodewald and Marcel Snijders in the cockpit, was among the speediest in the race against the clock, although stage 4 kicked some sand in his gears and threatened to ruin it all. He lost nearly an hour that day and tumbled to fifth place in the standings, at the time led by the even more consistent Aleš Loprais. The Czech did not pursue stage wins at all costs, instead profiting from his rivals' blunders and misfortunes. The Tatra driver seemed destined for victory, but he had to retire ahead of stage 10 due to his involvement in an accident that claimed the life of an Italian spectator.

Van Kasteren then inherited first place. The first driver not in a Kamaz last year, he managed to dodge the pitfalls in certain specials to power away, beyond the reach of his opponents. Neither Martin van den Brink, nor his son Mitchel, who became the youngest special winner in the truck race in stage 6, nor Macík managed to crack Van Kasteren, who wrapped up the 45th Dakar with three stage wins under his belt.

Source A.S.O. / Dakar Rally
A.S.O./J.Delfosse/DPPI