The second stage of the Dakar Rally showcased the best of the Van de Laar family. Over the course of the two-day, nearly 1,000-kilometer stage, Jan started behind the wheel of the Iveco. Despite losing an hour to quick repairs, the team managed to limit the damage. On the second day, Ben took over driving duties, and they cruised smoothly to the finish, achieving an impressive eighth place. Meanwhile, Erik and Hein had an excellent day, emerging as the best in their class. Opening the stage was challenging, but they were very satisfied with their performance.
The first day of the 48h Chrono started well for Jan, Ben, and Anja. “Jan skillfully guided us through a stunning but challenging route filled with high dunes and varying terrains. Unfortunately, we ran into technical issues, but just eight kilometers later, Team De Rooy was ready to replace the rear axle seal. With renewed confidence, we continued to the rest stop at the 482-kilometer mark.”
At the rest stop, the siblings had a unique experience. “Spending the night in the middle of the desert with just a tent and sleeping bags provided by the organization was simple but unforgettable. Today, Ben took the wheel, and it went smoothly. We quickly found our rhythm and, thanks to Jan’s excellent navigation, made up significant time. It was a diverse stage with dunes, fast tracks, and treacherous rocky areas. We finished eighth, recovering most of yesterday’s delay.”
The trio was particularly proud of their teamwork. “We’re thoroughly enjoying this adventure. Tomorrow brings another new challenge—we can’t wait!” The next stage takes them from Bisha to Al Henakiyah over a fast and technical 327-kilometer route.

Erik and Hein also enjoyed the second part of the stage. “It was another great day! Opening the stage today was tough and challenging. Finding the right tracks was tricky, but otherwise, everything went smoothly. The Audi performs fantastically—it’s a joy to drive. Tomorrow will be another long day with many kilometers to cover, including four regularity tests and a navigation test. Altogether, we’ll need to cover more than 800 kilometers.”