Ford Trucks to race in the 2019 Dakar Rally
Belgian based team VDR Truck Racing, the rally team supported by Ford Trucks, will race in the 2019 Dakar Rally driving Ford Trucks vehicles for the first time. Two Ford Trucks vehicles from the Ford Trucks Construction Series were specially designed for the toughest race in the world. They will be driven by Yves Rutten and Peter Van Delm, both of whom first raced in the Dakar Rally in 2009.
The countdown has begun for the 2019 edition of the Dakar Rally, the world’s toughest off-road marathon. The rally will start in the city of Lima in Peru, South America, and will run through 6-17 January 2019. VDR Truck Racing, the Belgian team supported by Ford Trucks, will also be competing in the event. The team brings together, Yves Rutten and Peter Van Delm, who will be racing in Ford Trucks vehicles for the first time.
Ford Trucks and the Belgian VDR Truck Racing team joined forces to develop two race trucks to compete in the world’s toughest race. The vehicles sent by Ford Trucks to the 2019 Dakar Rally were designed with the support of Ford Trucks engineers, while the racing gear was manufactured in the VDR Racing workshop in Belgium. The trucks were then assembled by Ford Trucks engineers and the VDR Truck Racing technical crew, before being tested under real rally conditions in order to prepare them for the world’s toughest race.
“Ford Trucks supports motorsports around the world”
Ford Trucks Vice President Serhan Turfan explains Ford Trucks’ support of global motorsports. “As one of the biggest manufacturers in the global market for heavy commercial vehicles, Ford Trucks combines 60 years of truck manufacturing experience with its capability in developing products that meet market demands. While we continue to grow as an international brand in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, we are also investing in and supporting motorsports. As such, we have been partnering with VDR Truck Racing since 2016. Under this partnership, our Ford Trucks vehicles will be racing for the first time in the Dakar Rally. Having subjected our vehicles to tests that mimic the conditions of the race, we are confident that their power and durability will help them succeed in the Dakar Rally. We are very happy to work with VDR Truck Racing, a team with proven worldwide success. VDR Truck Racing has put its trust in Ford Trucks to take on the world’s toughest race in our vehicles and we wish them all the best.”
In addition to the race trucks, Ford Trucks will provide all the equipment needed in the desert by the VDR Truck Racing team, which consists of two drivers, four co-drivers, and an eight-person technical crew. The team will also be accompanied by a service vehicle from Ford Trucks.
The 41st Dakar Rally will take place in South America. Unlike previous years, this year it will only run through Peru. The rally will kick off with a ceremonious start on 6 January 2019 and will last for 11 days. Starting in Lima, the rally consists of 10 stages. Upon completion of the route that takes racers through the deserts of Peru, the race will finish in Lima on January 17.
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