“We will do everything to help Mitchel win the Dakar”
CREW FACTS
M.v.d.B.
- Martin van den Brink is preparing to make his 17th outing in the trucks at Dakar 2025. After many years of fighting for overall success, the 54-year-old is now focusing his energy on supporting his son Mitchel van den Brink, who is hoping to improve on 3rd place at Dakar 2024.
- The Dutchman made his Dakar debut in 2009, finishing 12th overall. He drove several stages that year in traditional wooden shoes (clogs), and jokes that it earned him something of a reputation on the bivouac - "That guy is crazy, he must be from Holland!".
- Martin did Dakar 2019 with Mitchel as his onboard mechanic. At just 16, his son became the youngest ever Dakar competitor. Mitchel then drove an in-race assistance truck for his father in 2021 and 2022, but the roles have since been reversed.
- In 2025, both Van den Brinks will be driving an MM Technology truck built by their Czech rival Martin Macik. Mitchel has acquired the latest EVO 4 version and Martin will get behind the wheel of an EVO 2.
- In 2023 Martin enjoyed his best Dakar result to date (3rd) as part of Eurol Team De Rooy Iveco - a collaboration between the Van den Brink family team (Eurol Rallysport) and Gerard de Rooy's celebrated outfit. It was an excellent year all round as Mitchel finished 4th and their teammate Janus van Kasteren won the Dakar trucks title.
- Martin and Mitchel won the Morocco Desert Challenge 2023 in an SSV, with Martin behind the wheel. Mitchel then won it as a driver in 2024 with his dad's new navigator Bart van Heun.
B.v.H.
- Bart van Heun has been competing in traditional rally as a co-driver since 2016. After getting to know Mitchel van den Brink on the Dutch rally circuit in 2023, he took up cross-country, although Dakar 2025 will be his first competitive outing in a truck.
- A month before Dakar 2025, Bart helped Mitchel finish 3rd in the Challenger class at the renowned Dubai International Baja, where they joined Dakar legend Nasser Al Attiyah and T3 World Baja Cup winner Eduard Pons on the overall podium. Earlier in 2024, they topped the SSV class at the Morocco Desert Challenge.
R.M.
- Richard Mouw is a highly experienced navigator and mechanic who has been coming to the Dakar for over a decade. He made his competitive debut in the trucks in 2015 as a navigator for Martin van den Brink, and joined his crew again in 2016, 2023 and 2024. This will be their 5th Dakar together.
- Richard also worked with Mitchel van den Brink as a navigator in 2021 and 2022 - and describes the 22-year-old as a "super talent".
- The 49-year-old says the Dakar has been "a dream" since he was a little boy. As well as taking part 8 times in the truck, he worked on the bivouac in 2013, 2014, 2019 and 2020, so he has been present at each of the last 12 editions.
2025 AMBITIONS
M.v.d.B.: “For us the last Dakar was very hard, but we managed to reach the finish line. And in the race, we helped Mitchel finish on the overall podium, which was great. This year we will do everything to help Mitchel win the Dakar. This will be my 17th start at the Dakar. In the past it was my passion and I tried to teach my son as much as possible. In the future I will focus everything on him, and I still have a lot of energy to give! We tested our new truck in Morocco and I was amazed with the performance, it's like a car. At Dakar 2025 Mitchel will drive fast and we will help him and make dust for the rest!”
B.v.H.: “Mitchel and I have known each other since September 2023. We met just before doing the Hellerndoorn Rally together and had a good connection. Then he asked me to get to know rally-raid, so I made my debut in the sport at this year's Morocco Desert Challenge. A couple of months ago, Mitchel said to me, would you like to go with my dad in a truck? I said yes, for sure, let's do it! It's a great opportunity. I've been watching the Dakar since I was a little kid. We tested in Morocco a couple of weeks ago, but other than that I have no experience in the truck. It went well. It's surprising how fast the truck is, and it's amazing over the dunes. I hope Mitchel takes P1, and we're maybe second or third, I don't know. If he can win, it would be really nice. We'll try to provide good assistance.”
R.M.: “Martin is a friend of mine, and in 2011 he asked if I wanted to help build his truck for the Dakar. That's when it all started! Later I helped his son Mitchel with navigation. Mitchel is really a super talent. I did the Dakar with him twice and in October we went for a test in Morocco. What control he has over the vehicle! The most beautiful moment in my Dakar career was coming third with Martin in 2023, after many years of hard work to experience the podium. In 2025 we'll stay as close to Mitchel as possible and hope for another podium!”
