“The Dakar tests you technically, physically, and mentally”
En resumen
H.v.S.:
- By participating in Dakar 2018, Henri van Steenbergen fulfilled a childhood dream, driving a Desert Warrior built by Dutchman and longtime Dakar hero Kees Tijsterman. He first got a taste of rally-raids when he bought an old Land Rover to provide service for motorbike riders in the Heroes Legends rally. From there, he gradually moved into racing, relying on his skills and agility, and eventually progressed to off-road raids.
- Reflecting on his Dakar debut, he said: “Dreams need to be fulfilled. You can talk about your childhood dreams forever, but before you know it, you’re too old to do it.” His goal was simply to finish. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it to the end in 2018. He tried again in 2022 with Oryx Rallysport, but a technical issue prevented him from earning the finisher’s medal.
- Four years later, the entrepreneur in climate technology is back with the same team, with which he has gained experience in the Moroccan terrain in recent years, competing the Fenix Rally and the Morocco Desert Challenge. The 2026 edition is his third attempt, guided by a single objective: to be in Yanbu on January 17, having finally completed all the stages.
D.v.O.:
- Daan van Ooijen's earliest memories of the Dakar Rally go back to when, as a young kid, he watched the race on TV with his parents. They even traveled from the Netherlands to Clermont- Ferrand for the start of the 2004 edition. Twenty-two years later, Daan will be on the starting line in Yanbu, reunited with former competitors he once watched with wide-eyed admiration.
- A web development student, Daan also dreamed of becoming a car mechanic. By chance, one of his professors was involved with the Oryx team, which led to him joining the team as a mechanic. A role he continues to hold today.
- The Dutch competitor gained rally-raid experience in Morocco, first during the Fenek Rally -where he won the SSV category in 2023- and then at the Morocco Desert Challenge, alongside Henri van Steenbergen. Serving as both navigator and mechanic in those races, he used and developed skills that will prove invaluable for his first Dakar Rally attempt.
Ambición
H.v.S.: “The Dakar is the ultimate off-road team challenge, testing you technically, physically, and mentally. I have great memories from my last Dakar. It took some time to come back because I bought a new car after Dakar 2022, and I had to prepare it. Unfortunately, we experienced a failure during the 2022 race and finished in the Experience class. I have to fix it by earning the finisher’s medal! Back in 2016, I promised my dad that I would finish the Dakar, just before he passed away. That’s how this journey started. My previous navigator developed a minor back issue, so I had to make a change. Daan was already part of the team, working on the car and managing the social media website. Now, he has an extra job!”
D.v.O.: “I was at the start of the Paris-Dakar Rally in 2004, when I was just a kid. I even have a photo with Stéphane Peterhansel! During the first 40 kilometers of my very first rally-raid in Morocco, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. But after that, things started to click, and Henry and I worked really well together in the car. We both have a background in mechanics, so when there is a problem, we can fix it by ourselves, which is very helpful. Reaching the finish line is the main goal of my first Dakar Rally, everything else is just a bonus.”
