Gerard de Rooy drives Iveco Powerstar on Dakar Rally 2019 in Peru
The decision has been made: Gerard de Rooy will participate in the Dakar 2019 in Peru, where he won the most prestigious rally in the world in 2012.
Although De Rooy was victorious in the Africa Eco Race early this year and enjoyed this rally in his beloved Africa very much, the sporting challenge was not what he expected and hoped for, while the last Dakar Rally in South America was as challenging and competitive as he had so emphatically asked for in previous years. The objective of Team De Rooy and its sponsors is always to participate in the most challenging rallies. As it appears, the Dakar 2019 in Peru fully meets this requirement. Except for 2012 De Rooy also won the Dakar in 2016.
“I would have loved to go to Africa again, because that is where my heart lies, but I have no objections at all against the choice for South America”, says Gerard de Rooy. “For our sponsors Iveco and Petronas it is important that I compete there and I will do everything I can to achieve the best possible result. Obviously, I will continue to follow the developments in ‘rally land’ closely and there is nothing to be ruled out for the future.”
With which truck De Rooy appears at the start on the 6th of January in Lima, it is not clear yet. “Next week we are in Morocco to extensively test both the Iveco Powerstar with rigid axles as the one with independent suspension. The results of that test are decisive for the choice with which type I will go to the Dakar.”
What is certain is that De Rooy will bring his usual crew to South America: navigator Moi Torrallardona and mechanic Darek Rodewald. The composition of the other teams that will participate under the Petronas Team De Rooy Iveco flag will be announced shortly.
