Dubai International Baja 2022: Erik van Loon stranded with podium finish within reach, Anja learns much from Tsyro

A broken steering box in the final part of the second stage causes Erik van Loon and Sébastien Delaunay to drop out. Erik is firmly in second place at that point and is closing in on the leader, he is balking at the abandonment. Anja van Loon is happy with the experience of Dmytro Tsyro. The cooperation gets used quickly and Anja has learned to drive through the dunes in a different way.

"I am especially happy that things are going well with Anja and Dmytro," Erik says. "Switching navigators so soon before the Dakar is a risk, but it goes well between them. About my rally I can be brief, the potential is there while the result is again lacking. It is the fourth rally in a row with problems, I hope they will be solved before Dakar. We got behind a baby carriage quite quickly, but it drove on well. At the refueling stop we were over 3 minutes faster than Moraes, so maybe the win would have been there today."

Anja especially learned to drive differently: "Dmytro has so much experience, you notice that in everything. The calmness in the car, but also the tips he gives. We are much faster today than yesterday, it feels familiar. I feel completely ready for the Dakar Rally. Four more weeks of hard training and then I will finally start the big adventure."

On December 31, the Dakar Rally begins in Saudi Arabia. Last week, the updated route was presented. "It promises to be a tough rally with lots of sand and dunes. I am very much looking forward to it and am also very curious to see how Anja will do. For now it is important to get the car right and get us physically and mentally ready for the start in 4 weeks," Erik concludes.

Automatic translation from the original Dutch version
Source Van Loon Racing