Iveco triumphs in 2016 Dakar Rally

Thursday 21st January 2016

Iveco has secured its place on the top step of the podium at the Dakar 2016. Gerard De Rooy, leader of Team PETRONAS De Rooy Iveco, won the 2016 running of the most competitive motorsport endurance rally in the world. His performance over the 13 stages showed once again the pilot’s outstanding driving and navigational skills and confirmed the Iveco Powerstar’s supreme qualities. Iveco dominated one of the most competitive Dakar’s ever, which saw five different truck brands inside the Top 10.

Pierre Lahutte, Iveco Brand President commented: “Iveco’s triumph in the 2016 Dakar builds on the huge success we have already achieved with Eurocargo winning ‘International Truck of the Year 2016’ and Magelys ‘International Coach of the Year 2016’. We put the excellent reliability of our trucks to the ultimate test in this year’s Dakar, enabling the team’s outstanding pilots to give their best performance in the race. I would like to thank Gerard De Rooy, Federico Villagra, Anton Van Genugten, Pep Vila and Ales Loprais and their remarkable teams for the determination and drive they have shown.”

This is De Rooy’s second victory in the Dakar’s truck category. At the end of the competition, the Dutch champion dedicated his victory to his late Belgian navigator, Jurgen Damen, who passed away last year.

On the podium in third place, Federico Villagra, known as “El Coyote”, proved to be the revelation of this year’s Dakar. The Argentinian pilot, in his Iveco Powerstar, was followed by millions of local fans, in a market where Iveco is the leader.

Ton Van Genugten finished fifth in his Trakker. He is the other great revelation of the 2016 Dakar: while he was one of two quick service trucks supporting the team’s lead pilots – De Rooy, Villagra and Loprais – he succeeded in staying ahead of the other leading competitors and crossing the line in 5th place, missing a stage win only because he stopped to support his team leaders, demonstrating the wonderful team spirit inside the Iveco team.

Spaniard Pep Vila, behind the wheel of another Iveco Trakker, took 10th place. The expert Spanish pilot, now at his 6th Dakar with Iveco and 5th with Team De Rooy, fought until the end to finish inside the Top 10.

The Dakar race has also been a great opportunity for Iveco to highlight the performance of its engines. The Iveco Cursor 13 engines – manufactured in Bourbon Lancy, France and specifically prepared for the race by FPT Industrial at its R&D centre in Arbon, Switzerland – are known for their performance and durability, and powered Iveco’s latest success in the rally.

The 2016 Dakar was decided over a 9,000km South American route which proved to be the perfect showcase for the Iveco’s versatility and strength.

FINAL RANKING – TRUCKS

1. GERARD DE ROOY (NLD), IVECO 
Co-pilot: MOI TORRALLARDONA (E) 
Mechanic: DAREK RODEWALD (PL)

2. Mardeev (RUS), Kamaz

3. FEDERICO VILLAGRA (ARG), IVECO 
Co-pilot: JORGE PEREZ COMPANC (ARG) 
Mechanic: MEMI ANDRES (ARG)

4. Stacey (NLD), MAN

5. TON VAN GENUGTEN (NLD), IVECO 
Co-pilot: ANTON VAN LIMPT (NLD) 
Mechanic: PETER VAN EERD (NLD)

6. De Baar (NDL), Renault Trucks

7. Nikolaev (RUS), Kamaz

8. Valtr (CZE), Tatra

9. Versluis (NLD), MAN

10. PEP VILA (E), IVECO 
Co-pilot: XAVI COLOME ROQUETA (E) 
Mechanic: MARC TORRES SALA (E)

11. Ardavichus (KAZ), Tatra

12. Van del Heuvel (NDL), Scania

Dropped out in Stage 5:

ALES LOPRAIS (CZ), IVECO 
Co-pilot: FERRAN ALCAYNA MARCO (E) 
Mechanic: BERNARDUS DER KINDEREN (NL)