DE LEEUW Tom BEL 11/03/1972 169 cm 81 kg

VAN OBBERGEN Dirk BEL 15/07/1969 188 cm 90 kg

LIBOIS Arnaud BEL 01/05/1983

Vehicle

MODEL	MAKE
TGS 18.480	MAN

RANKING

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Scratch	47	22	16	67	28	-	-	40	31	53	-	-	23	20
Stage	47	22	16	67	28	-	-	40	31	51	-	55	23	20	-	-
Overall	47	35	19	42	40	-	-	36	26	26	-	-	26	25	-	-

Tom de Leew: “At 200% for the team”

A driver with great experience, a co-driver coming from rallies, a young talented and motivated mechanic: here’s a promising trio that the Volkswagen Motorsports team gathered together to take care of the race assistance of its four Touaregs. To allow Carlos Sainz or Giniel de Villiers to conquer final victory, quite a challenge for Belgian Tom de Leeuw, one of the most reliable race truck drivers of the Dakar rally. Out of 13 appearances (including nine in the assistance), he has never suffered a mechanical break down. “Even without competing for big teams, I was always serious and very well prepared”, he explains. “In the Volkswagen team, we are expected to be very professional. We have to give 200% for the team”. That’s perfect: after years of racing, this Toyota dealer remains as motivated as for his first days. He constantly tries to improve and intends on proving in South America that he has his place among the best. At his side, Dirk Van Obbergen prepares for a transition Dakar. After six appearances on the Dakar as a truck driver (twice in the race, four times in an assistance), the Flemish is about to discover co-driving. A change managed “without stress” for the WRC mechanic who has travelled around the world from rally to rally for 18 years. “We’ll see what happens. I’ve known Tom for ten years, we lived great experiences together. We’re in a super team, everything should go well”. The two men might serve as mentors for Arnaud Libois, the youngest of the crew, a 25-year-old mechanic who works all year around for Volkswagen on the WRC championship. “He’s very dynamic, I’m happy to have him in the truck”, already says a delighted Tom. With these three, the top VW drivers have nothing to worry about.

Dakar start photos on line: www.maindruphoto.com

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