On Wednesday, November 19th, Leeuw Rallysport presented itself to the public at Leeuw Opleidingen in Eindhoven. Marc Leeuw is the founder of the team, but in recent years he has been skillfully handing over the reins to his son Marnix. This twenty-year-old will be competing in the Dakar Rally for the first time in a truck. Along with navigator Marco Siemons and mechanic Bert van Donkelaar, Marnix will start the world’s toughest rally on January 3rd. Leeuw Rallysport will compete in Saudi Arabia under its own flag in an Iveco Powerstar built by Team De Rooy.
The presentation was hosted by Tim Coronel, an experienced expert who knows exactly what he’s talking about when it comes to participating in the Dakar Rally. With twenty entries under his belt, he had some good advice for Marnix and the team: “Enjoy it!” Of course, finishing the rally is the goal, and the 2026 participation will be all about gaining experience. In 2027, Marnix wants to raise the sporting bar, and his ultimate dream is to win the Dakar Rally in the truck category.
Since he was little, Marnix has been fascinated by the Dakar Rally. This fascination began in his early years when his father, Marc Leeuw, first participated in the legendary race. Marc has now competed in the Dakar Rally four times, and each time he returned with stories of the grueling deserts, the breathtaking landscapes, and the teamwork required to survive such a race, Marnix knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps one day.
The trucks his father drove always made a huge impression on him. The sound, the power, and the technology required to drive such a monstrous vehicle in extreme conditions had completely captivated him. The idea of being behind the wheel in the biggest and toughest rally in the world is more than just a dream for Marnix.
He and his father discussed how they could make this dream a reality. They decided on a three-year plan: in the first year (2024), they would participate in the Hungarian Baja and the Breslau Rally with a buggy. In the second year (2025), they would complete the Morocco Desert Challenge with a buggy and the Hungarian Baja with a truck. In the third year (2026), the ultimate challenge would follow: the Dakar Rally with a truck.
Last year, Marnix unexpectedly got the opportunity to participate in the Dakar Rally. Sander Derikx brought him in as navigator. He was the youngest participant in the 2025 edition. The duo finished an impressive eighteenth. With this valuable experience, he is now one step closer to realizing his dream of competing in a truck himself.
