“On a circuit you drive at 99%, but in the sand it’s another story”

Sprightly 59-year-old Roger Grouwels, a former Supercar circuit racer, is ready for his second Dakar experience after a difficult first time in 2023. Mechanical and electronic problems prevented him from fully enjoying his first participation, although he also admits he made some mistakes. He switched to a new car and will try to manage his race better. A difficult exercise for this Real estate investor, because he is used to sprint races - the Porsche Carrera Cup, the Ferrari Challenge Europe… -, which is a totally different autosport! He will share his car with Ronald van Nederpelt, who made his debut as a co-driver in October 2023, during the Rallye du Maroc. A 70-year-old rookie? His answer is quite simple: “Never too old to learn!”

R.G.: “On a circuit you drive at 99% but in the sand it’s another story. You have to wait, to control, to not go to the limit… It’s very different from my sprint racing background! I’m coming back for the second time after having to retire in 2023. We faced some problems, I’ve also made mistakes and I learned a lot. The challenge will be to use this experience and to stay focused in order to finish the race.”