2025 AMBITIONS

V.Z.: “This is going to be my 10th Dakar and the first one in a truck, so a big change for sure. The last couple of years were quite challenging. We were in really fast cars but managing a lot of technical issues. I've had enough of standing on the side of the tracks! At one point we were stopped and I saw one of the big trucks passing by, and I thought, that seems like something that doesn't break so easily! And it looks like fun. I've actually had a truck driving licence since 2011. Back when I had my own team, I used to drive our big service truck to Marseille to drop the car off before the Dakar. I really enjoy it and I thought, maybe this is something I can do in the racetrack as well. So it's not as spontaneous as it looks. I've been in a romantic relationship with heavy machinery for a while now. I did a small test with De Rooy last year, I liked the truck and the team. I contacted them again this year and they had one remaining truck available for Dakar 2025, so we struck a deal rather quickly. The first few kilometres there were a bit stressful, especially in the dunes. In a car you can follow the cap quite easily and go more or less straight. But in a truck it's not as easy. Initially I was really nervous about getting stuck, because the truck flips really easily. But after two days we got used to it, and now I can manage more or less. I didn't make the change to become a tourist at the Dakar. It's also harder and harder to buy a seat in T1+, especially if you're not from a top rally-raid nation. So switching to another class made sense. I'll be at the Dakar, racing with the best guys, just in a different category. And we certainly want to fight for a good result. The sporting target is to go for the maximum. It's really exciting that Paulo has accepted the challenge. I wasn't sure he would be keen, but he gave me a positive response within 15 seconds of me asking the question! It's really encouraging and reassures me that we're going in the right direction.”

P.F.: “For me this is a new challenge, competing in a different category, and I'm very optimistic. I previously did two editions of the Dakar in the assistance trucks. I think that in terms of navigation, it's practically the same whether you're in a car or a truck. My goal for Dakar 2025 is to win this category! Otherwise, I would like to finish in the best possible position.”

M-V.G.: “I have always been a big fan of the Dakar and Team De Rooy. I knew another driver from autocross who'd been working at De Rooy for a while. One day they were looking for a new mechanic and that's how I got involved. Participating in the Dakar has been a big dream of mine. As a child, I used to sit in front of the TV every night to watch every single episode of the Dakar. And I've done my utmost to prepare for Dakar 2025. In technical terms I know the whole truck, we went testing together in Morocco with Vaidotas and Paulo. And physically I've been training a lot. It's hard to say what we can achieve. Vaidotas is a very good driver and Paulo is a very good navigator. They've been competing together for several years and they've shown they are very fast. I know the whole truck, and this De Rooy truck is one of the best in the field. So I think we have a very good chance of finishing on the podium. But it remains Dakar and you never know.”