With four original Audi Quattros, old friends will participate in the Dakar Classic. the gentlemen Van Loon, Van den Bosch and Van Eerd enjoy to the fullest. They know each other from a shared past within the X Dakar team. This illustrious trio is supplemented by Mr. Stacey. Without ‘Van’, but the only one who is listed as a Dakar winner. He won the last African Dakar rally in the truck and is now returning to the Dakar classic.
Stacey had wanted to participate earlier with the Audi Quattro prepared in Veghel, but when he found out that the Dakar classic is not a speed race, he abandoned that plan. Now he is going after all and will have to ignore his competitive nature as much as possible. The Dakar classic is a regularity race where it is not about who gets from A to B the fastest. The game is about meeting the time limit given for each stage as accurately as possible. If you are too fast, you will receive a penalty time. In short: A safe setup for the real classic rally vehicles that participate, but a torture for participants who have real racing blood flowing through their veins.
We spoke briefly to Stacey in the workshop where the final preparations were being made, just before departure to Barcelona. From the Catalan capital, the vehicles will be shipped to Saudi Arabia. He is very pleased with the Quattro and is convinced that it would also be able to compete well in the real Dakar rally. Of course, the car does not meet the current regulations and is severely limited. It does say something about the quality with which these cars are built when new.
Mr. Van Kasteren senior is also taking part. In the legendary The Bull of DAF De Rooy Classic, he will provide the team with fast service in the competition. The quartet of gentlemen in the Quattros will mainly participate for a bit of fun and we are looking forward to the beautiful pictures that it will certainly produce.
