“A hobby I take extremely seriously”
En resumen
K.K.
- Kees Koolen, 60 years old, is one of the most versatile competitors in Dakar history. Long before entering rally‑raid, he combined a deep passion for sport with an entrepreneurial career, helping to build several global companies that people know today, including Booking.com and Uber. He now leads Koolen Industries, a Dutch clean energy conglomerate founded in 2019, with the mission of accelerating the transition to clean, renewable energy and making it accessible, affordable, and widely available.
- Despite working extremely long hours each week, sport has always been an essential part of his life. He completed in long and demanding events such as Ironman triathlons and the International Six Days Enduro. His first Dakar, in 2009, was his second rally-raid. He finished it successfully on a bike.
- The famous Dutch entrepreneur began a unique multi-discipline Dakar journey across bikes, quads, buggies, SSVs, and trucks. Over the years, he competed all over the planet and earned three different rally‑raid world titles – in Quad in 2017, SSV in 2020 and Trucks in 2022.
- Kees is back for his 16th Dakar after finishing 4th in the truck category last year. This time, he will be behind the wheel of the G-Ecko in the Challenger class. His longtime friend Jurgen van den Goorbergh is back alongside him for their third Dakar together as a team, following their 2014 and 2020 campaigns.
J.v.d.G.
- Jurgen van den Goorbergh has had two remarkable careers. His first was in motorcycle racing, where he reached the level of Grand Prix and MotoGP World Championship competition. He is, in fact, the last Dutch rider to compete at that level, taking part in 94 premier class Grands Prix between 1997 and 2005. He retired from circuit racing, but not from racing.
- He made his Dakar debut in 2009 and earned an impressive 17th place (1st rookie), showing that no matter the bike, he knows how to be fast on two wheels. He went on to compete in multiple challenging ways. He raced a single-seat buggy he built together with his friend Kees Koolen. He also participated in the bikes’ malle-moto class (without any assistance), winning the category in 2017. The 2018 edition was his last on a bike, a home-built KTM based on an EXC model.
- Jurgen met Kees at the Dakar 2009, when they were part of the same bike team. They later competed in two editions together and remained close friends. Kees even became one of Jurgen’s son (Zonta) sponsors in the Moto2 World Championship. They raced together twice in the truck (2014) and SSV class (2020). Six years later, they are back side by side in the Challenger category. It will be Jurgen’s twelfth Dakar.
Ambición
K.K.: “I work very long hours every week and Dakar is still my hobby, but it is a hobby I take extremely seriously. Dakar always deserves respect. Our approach is very clear: come through the first week without mechanical issues and in one piece, then gradually push harder in the second week. The goal is a solid Top 10, but if everything comes together, a Top 5 is definitely possible. The Challenger class suits me very well at this stage. It is fast, technical and still very much about driving and navigation. The car we use is based on the OT3 platform, but it has been heavily modified, with a closed body and 32-inch tyres. That makes a big difference, especially in Saudi Arabia where conditions can also be cold, wet and demanding. Jurgen is more than a navigator, he is a close friend and a true partner. We have built cars together, raced Dakar together and trust each other completely. For several years he was very focused on supporting the Moto2 career of his son Zonta. Now that Zonta is a bit older, Jurgen also has time again for his own passions, and it feels natural to be back together in Dakar.”
J.v.d.G.: “It’s nice to be back! When Kees called me to ask me to be his navigator, I said, ‘Yes, but give me time to think about it,’ because it’s something special and you need to prepare well. The key point was the Rallye du Maroc. It was a test to see if everything was still working. Navigation is a bit different now, but I understood the new system quite quickly, and it makes things much easier. And since it’s better, you go faster! So, my navigation is ok, Kees and the car are good too. We are not the fastest, but we are consistent. The Dakar is a long race, and the key is not only speed, but also endurance and maintaining a good average. I think we can reach the Top 10 or even be close to the Top 8. The harder the Dakar, the better it will be. We won’t be at the front in the beginning as we will be steady, but by staying consistent every day, you gain positions. Let’s see how far we can go.”
