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Trucks in the Dakar Rally

With 52 rally trucks participating, the field may be smaller than in previous years, but competition at the top remains fierce. Eight Dutch drivers are set to take part, all equipped with trucks capable of achieving a top-10 finish. Among them, Mitchel van den Brink stands out as a top contender for the title.

Martin Macik, the reigning champion, will start with the coveted #600 on his truck. His MMT EVO4 is one of nine trucks prepared by the Czech constructor MM Technology, which is steadily solidifying its dominance in the rally truck category.

Out of these nine MMT trucks, five will be driven by Dutch participants: Richard de Groot, Kees Koolen, and Martin and Mitchel van den Brink are all piloting pure MMT rally trucks. The fifth, Maurik van den Heuvel, brings a unique twist with a truck featuring jacks, a Scania engine, and an International cabin with an impressive nose, setting it apart from the other eight.

The remaining three Dutch drivers in the rally are Anja van Loon and brothers Ben and William de Groot. Notably absent this year are Janus van Kasteren Jr., Michiel Bekx, and Vick Versteijnen. Janus and Michiel are making the jump to the T1+ car class in 2026, joining a new team that includes Rogier Grouwels. Meanwhile, Vick Versteijnen is taking a year off to explore his options for the future.

Anja van Loon will share the wheel at Team De Rooy with her brothers Ben and Jan van de Laar. Hopefully, they’ll alternate driving duties after all, as the non-existent saying goes, “Three pairs of hands on the wheel make for expensive repair bills.” Joking aside, it’s wonderful to see them embarking on this new Dakar adventure together, undoubtedly keeping the memory of their late father, Fried van de Laar, close to their hearts.