“Awesome to ride against the drivers you’ve admired”
معلومات عن الطاقم
P.K.
- The name Klaassen is already well known to Dakar enthusiasts, but Pim is a new face. The 21-year-old Dutchman will participe for the first time. As expected, his passion for racing runs deep in the family. He is the son of Dave Klaassen and the stepson of Tessa, together the driving force behind DaklaPack Rallysport. He is also the cousin of Puck, against whom he will compete in the Challenger class, while his younger brother Henk is also driving.
- Pim obtained his driving licence at 18 and began competing in small regional rallies in 2023, first in South Africa and later in Europe. His schedule is a demanding one, as he is learning rally- raid while simultaneously studying business management. He enjoys trying many different sports like cycling, running, football, and windsurfing. But it’s in off-road racing where he truly excels.
- As his experience grows, Pim is already starting to make a name for himself through strong results. In 2025, he finished among the leading Challenger drivers at Baja Spain (6th), Baja Sharish (3rd), and the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal (3rd). These performances make him a driver to follow, even though he sees this first Dakar as a learning opportunity, alongside his navigator Mark Laan, who was recommended by his father after they first met in the dunes during the 2023 Dakar Rally.
M.L.
- Mark Laan brings valuable experience to the team. A professional caravan mechanic, he has competed in some Dakar Rallies and many other international events throughout his career, across all major four-wheels categories. Deeply involved in rally-raid, the Klaassen family entrusted him with guiding and mentoring their 21-year-old son, Pim. A role he has fulfilled since 2024.
- Mark first met the Klaassen family during the 2023 Dakar Rally. Dave and Tessa were stuck in the dunes and Mark, driving a truck, helped them. They finished thanks to him, and shortly afterwards, Dave proposed to Tessa on the podium. A few months later, Mark was offered the role of navigator for Pim, a rising rally-raid talent.
- The duo has since focused mainly on Baja events and national rallies, particularly on the Iberian Peninsula. They made a strong impression at the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, finishing 3rd in the Challenger class. An encouraging result that confirms they are moving in the right direction. Could they already be considered outsiders in the Challenger class at their very first Dakar together?
طموح
P.K.: “I’ve always followed the Dakar, especially intensely over the last four or five years. It’s awesome to always watch it on TV and then suddenly be on the same start line, saying hello to the drivers you’ve admired for so long. My recent results, especially in Portugal where I was racing against some of the top names, brings more pressure, but it’s also a dream coming true to be able to race against them. Since this is my first Dakar, the main objective is to finish. Getting a strong result as a rookie is very difficult, so the real goal is to complete every stage and earn a finisher’s medal. In rally-raid, experience is very important and I can see it: the more experienced I have, the more races I do, the better I become. My father has warned me about the long and tough days: long liaisons, long specials... This year, the Empty Quarter is not part of the route, which helps me as I don’t yet have much experience in deep dunes! Still, it will be a long and demanding Dakar.”
M.L.: “I stopped navigating in 2024 because I had some things to take care of at home, but I felt something was missing. I said to myself that I would do it again if there was the opportunity, and the Klaassen family asked me to join Pim. We competed in some rallies and it went very well. We had a few issues, but Pim is a very talented driver, he has something special. You can see him learning and improving all the time. He’s a rough diamond! That’s why I’m really looking forward to doing the Dakar with him. I believe we can aim for a Top 10 result, although I won’t set the bar higher: luck plays a huge role at Dakar. I’ve competed in trucks, cars, and buggies, and each category has its own character. Trucks are massive, T1+ cars are incredibly powerful, but Challenger combines everything. It’s fast, technical, and extremely competitive. As the name suggests, Challenger really is a challenge. It’s a growing category with huge potential, where you can learn and develop a lot, and a very close race. That’s why you have to think during the race, because Dakar is a long-distance rally.”
