The fifth stage of the Dakar Rally, also the second part of the marathon stage, brought significant challenges for both Erik and Anja van Loon. While Erik, alongside Hein Verschuuren, tested their Audi Quattro in the Dakar Classic, Anja drove an impressive race in the Iveco Powerstar with her brothers Ben and Jan van de Laar, part of Team De Rooy and finished fourth, but may move up to third. Despite the tough conditions, both teams reflect positively on the day as they look forward to a well-deserved rest day in Hail.
Anja proudly recounted an excellent day. “We really had a great day,” she said enthusiastically. “The stage was incredibly tricky. They said there would be 4% stones, but it felt more like 80%! We traversed massive rocky areas, which were tough on the equipment. We drove extra carefully in those sections to keep everything intact, and then we were able to push hard. The result? We’ll likely move up to P3. It’s a fantastic feeling, especially as we were the first Team De Rooy truck to finish.”
The collaboration with her brothers has been smooth. “We rotate drivers every day, and it’s working perfectly. Today was Ben’s turn. The trust and enjoyment are huge, and we’re carrying that into the second week.” After two flawless days, Anja, Ben, and Jan remain determined. “Today was the cherry on top, but now the truck needs some TLC. Luckily, tomorrow is the rest day, and both the mechanics and we can recharge.”
For Erik, the day was equally tough, but he remains in good spirits. “What a day,” he began. “We started at 7:00 a.m. in the dark, and the navigation was tricky. In the loose sand, I knocked a tire off, and then we had four Regularity Tests full of rocks. That proved too much for the Audi: one flat tire, then another… In the end, we waited 1.5 hours for Peter, who gave us his last wheel. With no spares left, we decided to skip RT5.”
Despite the setbacks, Erik remains upbeat. “The atmosphere is fantastic, and it’s still incredible to do this. During tomorrow’s rest day, we’ll fix everything and get ready to go full throttle again.”
With the rest day on the horizon, the Van Loon family can take a moment to recover from the intense marathon stage. For the truck team, it’s a chance to restore both man and machine, while Erik prepares for a fresh start in the Dakar Classic. Both teams are ready to tackle the second week with full force.
