“A natural step”
Crew facts
M.B.
- Having achieved numerous podiums finishes in rallies in the Netherlands and Belgium, Michiel Becx finally made his Dakar debut in 2019 in a car called the MidJet. However, he didn't reach the finish line, and the MidJet needed further development. He seemed destined to miss the 2020 edition until he had coffee with Team De Rooy and asked to join the team. Delighted to provide fast assistance for other drivers of the team, he earned his first finisher's medal.
- He embarked on a new project in 2021; together with Dutch rally driver and good friend Hans Weijs. Hans, from Hans Weijs Motorsport, and Michiel Becx, with his company Expandable Trailers, joined forces under the name Arcane. After months of hard work on their lightweight T3 vehicle, they competed in the 2022 Dakar and brought the Arcane to the finish line.
- Back in a truck in 2024, he supported Janus van Kasteren Jr. and achieved an impressive 5th place. "The absolute maximum result we could have." Like his co-driver Wouter de Graaff, Michiel will be experiencing something new in 2026, as it will be his first Dakar in T1+, driving a Century CR7.
W.d.G.
- Over the years and multiple Dakar rallies, Wouter de Graaff has established himself as a key figure in the desert. He is preparing for his 15th participation and his 12th consecutive, having achieved his best result just one year ago, finishing 4th in the truck category.
- By day, Wouter manages a roadside service company; every January, he switches from a support role to competitive racing. Throughout his career, he has competed alongside renowned drivers such as Pascal de Baar, Janus van Kasteren, Martin van den Brink, and Kees Koolen.
- The Dutchman is now set to tick another milestone in his career: competing in the Ultimate category, after previous participations in the truck and Challenger classes. When Michiel Becx needed a navigator, his own being too busy with business, Janus van Kasteren recommended Wouter. And they’re now embarking on an adventure of approximately 8,000 kilometers!
Ambition
M.B.: “Dakar 2024 was a fantastic edition, and we were very proud of our 5 th place. Moving to the cars category is a natural step for me after competing in trucks and Challenger. It’s the premier class of off-road rallying, and I love the challenge of starting the world’s toughest rally in a completely different vehicle. Every time you have to adapt your driving style to new machinery, and that constant learning process is something I really enjoy. The Dutch drivers and navigators form a close-knit community, so we all know each other well. My regular navigator, Edwin Kuijpers, wasn’t able to combine his work with the rally schedule this year, and Wouter de Graaff was the ideal replacement. He has a lot of experience, navigates extremely well, and is mechanically strong. We agreed to team up within fifteen minutes. Having already competed in a few rallies together, our cooperation has been excellent. We know it will be tough to compete with the factory teams, but we’ll give everything we have to stay as close to them as possible in the general classification. Our main benchmark will be the Coronel team, as they’ve been driving a Century for many years. My goal is to match their pace and stay connected with them throughout the rally.”
W.d.G.: “I’ve already driven a few rallies with Michiel in the T1+, and it’s even better than driving a truck! Higher speed, more competition… and changing those wheels really saves a lot of time and weight [compared with trucks]. We’ve seen that we can go very fast together, but the T1+ class is extremely competitive. We’re going to give it our all, and earning a spot near the Colonel brothers and Janus van Kasteren would be great. I’ve also noticed that by switching categories and drivers, I’m starting the Dakar with a completely new energy! The Dakar has been, and continues to be, a wonderful mental reset, and the rest of my life has become so much easier!”
