Team De Rooy enter four trucks for Dakar 2022
Team De Rooy will enter the Dakar Rally 2022 with four brand new trucks, with a fully Dutch line-up, divided over two teams. Petronas Team De Rooy Iveco consists of Janus van Kasteren jr, Hans Stacey and Mitchel van den Brink, Mammoet Team De Rooy Iveco is represented by Martin van den Brink. With this strong composition, a mix of experience and young talent, Team De Rooy wants to take a serious shot at the podium places in Saudi Arabia.
The return of Hans Stacey – after five years of absence – and the arrival of Martin van den Brink in the team, can safely be described as surprising. The both of them entered the team after a turbulent and emotional period. Initially, the team was complete with Van Kasteren and Van den Brink junior, and Ton van Genugten and Federico Villagra.
The tragic death of Ton van Genugten left a big void, both physically and mentally. Around the same time it became clear that Argentinian driver Federico Villagra had to withdraw. Gerard de Rooy then contacted Martin van den Brink. “I was asked to drive for the team after Ton passed away. I found the request emotional, but also honourable,” says 51-year-old Van den Brink. “I cannot pass up this opportunity. In addition, after the Kamaz factory team, De Rooy is the team with the most experience.”
The fact that his son Mitchel was already part of Team De Rooy is another reason for Van den Brink. “It is a great opportunity for the future for both me and my son. De Rooy gives young drivers such as Mitchel, but also Janus van Kasteren a chance. That is beautiful. I want to look to the future and Mitchel will have the opportunity to develop further.”
Martin van den Brink forms the ‘orange team’ within Team De Rooy and will act under the flag of Mammoet Team De Rooy Iveco, with the Iveco Powerstar. He is accompanied on board by navigator Peter Willemsen and mechanic Bernard der Kinderen.
Janus van Kasteren jr, Hans Stacey and Mitchel van den Brink form the ‘green team’, under the flag of Petronas Team De Rooy Iveco. Hans Stacey had already asked his cousin Gerard de Rooy at an earlier stage whether there was a Powerstar ‘left’. “That was not the case then, but after Villagra’s cancellation it was. It is an unexpectedly nice development to be able to drive the Dakar in three continents.”
With Hans Stacey, Team De Rooy brings one of the most experienced (eleven entries) and successful participants in the Dutch Dakar history to the start, with a victory (2007) and two podium places (2006, 2012). “The thought of doing another Dakar has always been there. The race in Saudi Arabia really appeals to me and with a good truck I can still be competitive despite a five-year absence. I am fit and motivated,” says 62-year-old Stacey, who can be found twice a week in Erik van Loon’s fitness room, with, until recently, Ton van Genugten, among others.
Stacey is accompanied in the Petronas Team De Rooy Iveco Powerstar by navigator Anton van Limpt, also a training buddy, who was initially going to go with Van Genugten, and mechanic Randy Smits, for whom it will be the first Dakar in a race truck.
Janus van Kasteren jr was already part of Team De Rooy two years ago. Together with navigator Marcel Snijders and mechanic Darek Rodewald, he drives the other Powerstar of the Petronas team. “It’s great to compete with a completely Dutch team, with four strong drivers,” says 35-year-old Van Kasteren. “And even a Dakar winner! We know each other well and are ambitious as a team. I hope we can cooperate well. The new Powerstar is a big step forward. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Mitchel van den Brink drove a Dakar by himself for the first time last January, after gaining experience as a mechanic with his father Martin the year before. As fast assistance in Team De Rooy, behind the wheel of the Iveco Trakker in Petronas livery, the bar is raised for him. “The pace will have to go up to stay close to the other three, but that is possible with the Iveco”, analyzes 19-year-old Van den Brink.
“In order to get used to the speed, I have recently gained experience with the Mitsubishi EVO. Getting the truck safely to the finish each day, staying close to the other three and providing assistance where needed is a challenging task, but one I look forward to with great anticipation. With Richard Mouw and Bert van Donkelaar I have two experienced men on board, both of whom are also good mechanics.”
Next week, the entire team will test all four race trucks in Morocco in preparation for the Dakar Rally 2022. On 20 November, the team and trucks will be presented to the public at the Dakar Pre Prologue at Landgoed Duynenwater (the former E3 beach) in Eersel.
