The first full stage of the Dakar Rally among the trucks immediately shaped a serious general classification. Over a 305-kilometer special around Yanbu, it was Aleš Loprais who took the stage victory. The Czech driver set the fastest time and held onto the top spot despite receiving a time penalty after the finish. Mitchel van den Brink applied pressure throughout the stage and finished second, 1 minute and 47 seconds behind. Defending champion Martin Macík recovered strongly after mid-stage issues and ended the day in third.
Decisive moments at the end of the stage
Loprais set the pace from the start and gave his rivals little breathing room. Around kilometer 260, he still had a lead of over four minutes, with Mitchel van den Brink as his closest challenger. In the final part of the special, Macík moved up, while Vaidotas Žala lost ground and just missed out on the day’s podium.
After the finish, the classification was adjusted. Loprais received a total time penalty of two minutes and ten seconds, reducing his margin over Van den Brink to 1 minute and 47 seconds. Žala also received a penalty and dropped down the order. Macík benefited and now holds third in the stage results, 7 minutes and 19 seconds off the lead.
Controlled strategy for Eurol Rallysport
Eurol Rallysport opted for a conservative approach from the outset. Mitchel van den Brink, together with Bart van Heun and Jarno van de Pol in the Iveco Evo4, executed that strategy precisely. Without taking major risks and avoiding serious problems, the crew crossed the finish line in second place. According to Van den Brink, the pace felt good, although the dust from buggies sometimes played a role. The conclusion was clear: a solid start and a good foundation for the days to come.
Martin van den Brink also had a controlled day. The experienced driver received a two-minute penalty as well, which did not affect his sixth place. Along with navigator Peter Willemsen and mechanic Richard Mouw, he avoided trouble and finished just behind his son, as planned.
Mixed fortunes for Gert and Kay Huzink
For Gert Huzink, the stage was anything but smooth. Within twenty kilometers, his truck experienced brake problems due to a defective air valve. After an emergency repair and a delay of over forty minutes, the team was able to continue, though the rhythm and starting advantage were lost. Still, Huzink managed to recover. In the final part of the special, where the terrain turned sandy and featured small dunes, he found his pace again. Over the last 250 kilometers, he was even five minutes faster than the stage winner, showing that the speed was there despite the setback.
On the other side of the Huzink camp, Kay Huzink had a trouble-free day. He quickly found a good rhythm, completed the special without technical issues, and ended the stage in seventh place. Given the treacherous course with lots of rocks and a high number of punctures in the field, that result was more than satisfactory.
Tomorrows stage
After the finish, the trucks returned to the bivouac in Yanbu. Monday’s second stage includes a 104-kilometer liaison and a 400-kilometer special heading to Alula. A pit stop is again scheduled, and caution will be key as the route once more mixes rocky sections with faster sandy stretches. The battle among the trucks is now fully underway.
Stage 1 results
1. Aleš Loprais 03:42:15
2. Mitchel van den Brink +00:01:47
3. Martin Macik +00:07:19
5. Richard de Groot +00:11:23
6. Martin van den Brink +00:14:07
7. Kay Huzink +00:15:17
10. Gert Huzink +00:38:31
11. Egbert Wingens +00:40:15
13. Ben de Groot +00:49:12
15. William de Groot +01:03:03
16. Marnix Leeuw +01:05:21
