Renault Trucks & MKR Adventure team fifth in Dakar
MKR Adventure team, led by Mario Kress, is tackling the extreme roads of the 2017 Dakar Rally behind the wheel of an Renault Truck, for the third time. After the first stages, the Renault Trucks Range K 520, driven by Pascal de Baar, occupies fifth position in the overall ranking.
After clinching sixth place in 2016, MKR Adventure has once again risen to the challenge of participating in the 2017 Dakar Rally, a competition that tests vehicles in extreme conditions. Three Renault Trucks vehicles have engaged in the race: a Renault Trucks Sherpa CBH 385 driven by Martin Van Den Brink (no. 506, Mammoet Rallysport team), a Range K 520 driven by Gert Huzink (no. 524, Riwald team) and a Range K 520 driven by Pascal de Baar (no. 510, Mammoet Rallysport team).
As an MKR partner since 2010, Renault Trucks provides support for its off-road and rally raid activities; MKR Adventure are experts on extremely difficult terrain and during the Dakar Rally the vehicles are subjected to some of the toughest tests with some sections of the race at an altitude of up to 4,700 m (15,000 feet) above sea level.
“At high altitude, our engine develops less torque and power as in the thinner air, it is more difficult to rev up the engine,” explained Mario Kress, describing the 336 km ‘special stage’ on the border between Bolivia and Argentina.
Through this partnership, the teams of Renault Trucks and MKR mutually enhance their technical and technological know-how, especially in relation to truck engines and transmissions.
