The first five stages of this Dakar Rally have been tough. Anja van Loon, Ben, and Jan van de Laar gained strength throughout the first week. The sister and brothers alternated positions in the truck’s cabin and showed steady improvement. The highlight was the marathon stage, which they finished with an impressive fourth time. Erik van Loon and Hein Verschuuren also had to adapt during the first week. The Dakar Classic proved challenging, but they thoroughly enjoyed every kilometer in the Audi. They currently lead their class comfortably.
Anja, Ben, and Jan started the rally strong. In the prologue, they finished in an impressive ninth place, just over a minute behind the winner. During the first stage, spanning 419 kilometers, Anja tackled the challenging course with determination, earning her brothers’ admiration. The second stage, a grueling 48-hour stretch of nearly 1,000 kilometers, brought technical setbacks, but quick repairs and teamwork allowed them to recover and move forward.
Subsequent stages posed more challenges, including damage from an unseen obstacle in stage three and treacherous terrain full of sharp stones in stage four. Despite this, the team consistently delivered strong performances, securing seventh place in stage four and a top result in stage five under tough conditions. Through improvisation, teamwork, and perseverance, they reach the finish each time and continue to impress in this demanding rally. They currently hold tenth place in the overall standings.
Erik van Loon and Hein Verschuuren began the Dakar Classic on a high note, finishing first in the H4-class during the prologue. Although a navigation error in stage one resulted in penalties, they ended the day positively with a strong performance in the final regularity test. In the first part of the marathon stage, they dominated their class, winning both the navigation test and a regularity test. The second part also went well despite the difficulty of opening the course, and they maintained their lead in the H4-class.
Stage three, however, brought challenges. The rocky course made it impossible to achieve the average speed, and two flat tires added to the penalties. After the stage, their Audi broke down and had to be towed to the bivouac. In stage four, they bounced back with a trouble-free ride through challenging terrain. Stage five proved tough again, with multiple flat tires and a missing spare wheel forcing them to skip a test. Erik and Hein are thoroughly enjoying driving the Audi, maintaining a comfortable lead in the H4-class. They are 40th overall and hope to improve during the second week.
The second week of the 2025 Dakar Rally promises to be just as demanding, with long stages, complex navigation, and challenging terrain. The week will feature a mix of fast sections and sandy obstacles, culminating in the infamous Empty Quarter, where competitors will need all their skills in dune driving and navigation. Strategic driving and endurance will be key, with the mass start on the final day providing a spectacular conclusion to this intense Dakar Rally.