“The ultimate tribute to our parents”
CREW FACTS
A.V.L.
- Impressive 14th for her first Dakar as a T3 driver in 2023, Anja Van Loon took up the challenge of completing the trucks race a year later in a 100% female crew. She was able to benefit from the advice of her partner Erik, who participated in fourteen Dakar rallies.
- But the Dakar runs in her veins. She is indeed the daughter of Fried Van de Laar who appeared on the Dakar in 2013 who sadly passed away, and the sister of Ben and Jan who have also taken on the rally.
- It will actually be a family matter on this 2025 edition with Anja sharing the cabin with her experienced brothers, and even sharing the driving.
- After her impressive 12th spot last January the 39-year-old who competed in several Baja races this year in a T3 SSV, can have big ambitions behind the steering wheel of an Iveco truck prepared by Team De Rooy.
B.V.D.L.
- While his sister wasn’t yet concerned by the Dakar, Ben Van de Laar was already in the cabin of a truck back in 2015 sitting alongside his father Fried. 35th of his first Dakar, he had to wait until 2022 to be handed the steering wheel.
- After his days as a co-driver, he managed his best ever performance in 2023 when he drove his Iveco truck to a fantastic 7th position.
- For his 7th Dakar, Ben, the youngest of the Van de Laar family will pass on the commands to his sister Anja, although he should also have some time behind the steering wheel.
JVDL
- Like his younger brother Ben, Jan Van de Laar discovered the Dakar in 2015 in the cabin of a truck driven by his father Fried. A year later he was behind the steering wheel finishing in 26th position. Still the driver, he had to wait to be in Saudi Arabia to capture his best performance (14th overall).
- After his years as the man in charge, Jan passed on the wheel to his brother Ben who actually managed to do better: 7th in 2023.
- For his 7th Dakar, Jan who is also the co-director (with his brother) of the family’s construction company, will be precious as one of the co-drivers (and sometimes driver) in the cabin of an Iveco truck prepared by Team De Rooy. And happy to push his sister Anja to try and get even closer to the Top 5.
2025 AMBITIONS
A.V.L.: “Without our mom and dad, we wouldn’t be here, we miss them every day, but thanks to them, we started this as a family. Unfortunately, our mom never got to experience it herself, but that’s why our dad started driving. First with Jan and then with Ben. The fact that we’re getting into the truck together five years after his death is the ultimate tribute to our parents. They’ll be watching from above and we’ll carry them with us every kilometer. We will all be driving, alternately. Jan and Ben have a lot of driving experience, of course, but they can also navigate. I have never done that before, so I will not be navigating during the Dakar. We want to be at the front, so that is not smart with these speeds. I think our big advantage will be that we know each other inside and out. I am very curious to see how that will be for us, but I am sure we can do it together. Last year I also drove an Iveco from De Rooy, so I know what it can do. Jan and Ben drove their own Iveco, so they will get used to it quickly. It is simply a very good truck that gets better every year. We are the only Dutch people in the team this year, so that will take some getting used to. We are going to make the best of it. We have to finish in the top ten and hopefully even a little higher. When I look at the Dutch competition, I hope we can still get into the top three. The most important thing is to drive well and have as little trouble along the way. Then we will be very happy and proud of each other at the finish. Our mom and dad will be watching from above and we will also think of them along the way, how proud they will be!"