“They’re not really trucks anymore, they’re monsters!”

The Firefighting trio of Richard De Groot, Mark Laan and Jan Hulsebosch take on the 2023 Dakar in the #517 Iveco Powerstar Torpedo. De Groot made his Dakar debut back in 2006, on a motorcycle, before transitioning to a truck in 2016. The absence of Kamaz means de Groot feels this year’s truck class could be more akin to a typical two-wheel contest, placing a premium on navigation and line choice rather than a follow-my-leader approach through the dunes.

R.D.G.: “The challenge is different each year. Normally Kamaz always start 1-2-3 and make the lines through the dunes, but now other people, who normally always follow, will need to do that. It's easy to make a mistake when you are leading, which means starting second, third or fourth could be a better position. But then the next day the stage winner will start in front and face the same problem! You see that a lot with the motorbikes and now we will have that for the trucks.
“I did eight years on the motorbike but didn’t look back after trying a truck. Actually they’re not really trucks anymore, they’re monsters! It’s unbelievable it’s possible to go that fast. My results have been going upwards, last year we were ninth and this year we’ll naturally try to do better again.
“As firemen, you always have to work as a team, trusting each other and knowing what each of you needs to do.”