“The navigator is the boss in the truck” 2

29 décembre 2016 - 14:57

A.H.: “Having my fourth navigator in four years may not look very good, but it is a matter of learning and gaining experience. The former three were really nice guys, but they didn’t have the experience a co-pilot in the Dakar needs. After all, it’s the navigator who is the boss in the truck and as a driver you have to rely on what the navigator says. But when he is insecure the driver gets insecure as well. That brought us into trouble several times. I have known Jac Gillis for eight years already from national rallies. He is an experienced co-pilot, although he hasn’t had much luck in the Dakar yet. But he understands the game, he understands my way of driving and as a bonus it’s a good fellow to have around. We used the Baja Aragon as a try out. I said: if we don’t kick each other out after his rally, we’ll give it a go for the Dakar. Not only was the result (fifth) very satisfying, all three of us – mechanic Wilko Hoefnagels, Jac and myself – enjoyed the cooperation and the Baja very much.”