“To fulfil my father’s dream of finishing the Dakar Rally”
En bref
K.H.
- Finishing the Dakar Rally was one of Richard Huzink’s dreams. Forced to retire from his first attempt in 2012, he then passed away because of illness before he could earn his finisher’s medal. Thirteen years later, his son Kay will make his debut on the legendary race, carrying forward a dream that has become a family legacy.
- Born into a racing-obsessed family, Kay began his motorsport journey in quads, competing from 2013 to 2021 in Dutch and European championships. He transitioned to rally‑raid in 2022, first in SSVs and then in trucks, guided by his uncle Gert Huzink, who himself will compete in his fourteenth Dakar in 2026. Kay races as part of Gert’s Kuipers-Jongbloed Hybrid Dakar Team.
- The young buyer at Riwald Recycling represents the new generation of rising truck drivers, alongside talents like Mitchel van den Brink. He won the 2025 Morocco Desert Challenge. A crash forced him to retire from the Rallye du Maroc and his teammates suffered back injuries, but he found replacements for Dakar 2026. Kay goes with Rob Buursen and Gerrit Schoneveld, who were originally meant to accompany Richard in 2013. This is more than a race: it’s a deeply moving continuation of a family dream, a tribute to a father whose ambition still lives on through his son.
R.B
- Rob Buursen remembers spending hours as a child watching his idols Ari Vatanen and Jan de Rooy on television. He was six years old and dreamed of joining them. He eventually turned to off- road racing after a few years doing circuit racing. Falling in love with the desert, he is now preparing to do his eleventh Dakar Rally as a competitor.
- A friend of the Huzink family, Rob has participated in nine editions alongside Gert Huzink. He was originally meant to race with his brother Richard, who was taken by illness too soon. The Dutch navigator is particularly moved at the prospect of racing alongside Richard’s son, Kay, to help him achieve the finisher’s medal that his father never earned. As a Dakar Legend, Rob’s experience will be invaluable to the young Dutch rookie.
- We could almost say that a Tubbergen team is lining up here: Rob is mechanic Gerrit Schoneveld’s neighbour, and Kay isn’t far away. In fact, the three participants all live within a 3- kilometer radius of each other!
Ambition
K.H.: “I decided to compete in the Dakar Rally one day to fulfil my father’s dream of finishing it. He also raced once in the truck category in 2012, but he didn’t finish and he passed away in 2013. My biggest goal for Dakar 2026 is simply to reach the finish line. I’m happy to go with Rob and Gait, I’ve known these guys since I was little. They’re good friends of the family and have also raced with my uncle Gert in the past. My father was going to participate for a second time with Rob and Gait, but unfortunately, he couldn’t because of his illness. It’s really wonderful and special that I can now do it with them and make it happen!”
R.B.: “I’ve known Kay all his life, and he wants to fulfil his father’s dream. I’m confident he will drive with his head, and I believe we can achieve a good result together. We can’t aim for the podium, there are more experienced drivers aiming for it, but I think we can fight for a Top 10 finish. That could be our goal, but the first one is to finish. The Saudi Arabian desert is a fantastic place to race. Every edition brings a new challenge, and every stage on the rally is a new challenge, so I’m really looking forward to it! For me, cross-country rallying is the most satisfying form of racing because every day is different. Every dune, every corner is new, and navigation is always a challenge.”
