“It’s very different to drive when you’re in the lead”

Janus Van Kasteren, Marcel Snijders and Darek Rodewald were the favorites for the 2023 victory, as they were the first non-Kamaz competitors in 2022, and they perfectly met expectations by winning the race. Their clear ambition is now to defend their crown in Saudi Arabia. The W2RC T5 World Champions showed their speed during the Rallye du Maroc, in October, winning 2 stages. Co-driver Snijders has the most Dakar experience of the trio, making his debut in the bike class back in 2005 - since then he has added entries in buggies, cars and trucks! Meanwhile, mechanic Rodewald has tasted the greatest success, being part of the winning De Rooy team in 2012, 2016 and 2023, plus our further podiums. They will be of great help to Janus, as the driver arrives in AlUla with some uncertainty regarding his physical condition.

J.V.K.: “We won the race last year and our goal is to repeat it. I think experience has been the key: we all had several participations, Darek won it in the past... To be with us is like being in a dream team. Marcel is really funny, he laughs every day, while Darek is very, very experienced. I now know what it means to win and it will be an advantage, because I can tell you that your drive is very different when you’re in the lead in the last days! You feel more pressure, you try to be focused but it’s complicated. My preparation is not perfect because I have some arm problems and I also hurt my ribs, I’m on it but I don’t feel 100%. Every year, David Castera tells us that the race will be harder, so we’ll see how it goes!”

M.S.: “I first got involved in the Dakar through a friend. We did it in 2005 on a bike, reached the finish and after that I was addicted! All in all I’ve done the Dakar twice in Africa, ten times in South America and this is going to be my fifth time in Saudi Arabia. 2011 was my first time ‘sitting’, in a factory Mitsubishi car. Then my first truck. After that I was back on a bike, in a buggy, a truck again, bike again… I had such good luck on the bike, finishing all my Dakars. I really treasure that and so after 2019 I decided I wouldn’t do it again on a bike, especially now I’m 56! I didn’t know Janus until five years ago when his navigator was injured and he needed a replacement. He’s a really nice guy. We also do a few other rallies together because it’s good for the navigator and driver to spend time together understanding how the other communicates. Now he knows what I mean, even when I’m silent!”

D.R.: “My first Dakar should have been 2008 with Jan De Rooy, but it was cancelled. I returned with his son Gerard and since then I’ve competed thirteen times, winning three times and finishing on the podium several more times. The Dakar is a marathon; you don’t have to win a day to win the rally. But it doesn’t forgive mistakes and only the well-prepared will finish. This is my fourth time working with Janus and every year he makes another step. Janus, Marcel and I make a strong team. As a mechanic there’s a lot of work late into the night, but no-one can do the Dakar on their own and you win or lose together. The Dakar combines everything, man and machine, which is what makes it such an incurable disease!”