IVECO Dakar Rally update

3 MinutesBy NZ Trucking magazineJanuary 20, 2017

    

IVECO trucks have once again performed strongly in this year‘s gruelling Dakar Rally, taking out third and fourth positions after 9,000 kilometres of racing across South America‘s roughest terrain.

Driven by Dutchman Gerard de Rooy, the IVECO Powerstar finished on the podium only 41m 19s short of winner Eduard Nikolaev, after 12 days of close racing.

This year‘s third placing – which included two stage victories – adds to de Rooy‘s wins in 2016 and 2012 and is seen as an excellent result given the multiple punctures his truck suffered during the event.

Also performing strongly this year was Argentinian Federico Villagra, in another IVECO Powerstar – he finished the event in fourth position, less than 20 minutes behind de Rooy.

In total, six IVECO trucks competed and finished the 2017 Dakar Rally, a testament to the manufacturer‘s strength and reliability.

Iveco New Zealand general manager, Ian Walker, says IVECO‘s off-road range has tremendous pedigree and is second to none in the New Zealand market. “Local buyers have a lot of choice from IVECO when it comes to off-road vehicles. Beginning with the Daily 4×4, the range then moves to the Eurocargo 4×4 and for heavier duty applications up to 33t GVM, there‘s the Trakker 4×4 and 6×6 range which is increasingly being put to work in spreading, forestry and utility applications.”

IVECO Australia marketing manager, Darren Swenson, says the Dakar rally was helping to grow awareness of IVECO‘s off-road credentials.

“IVECO is gaining a very solid reputation in demanding off-road racing such as Dakar, and increasingly this is leading to improved sales across the range and a growing list of satisfied local customers in both Australia and New Zealand.”

Overall standings – Dakar 2017

1. Eduard Nikolaev (Kamaz) 27h 58m 24s

2. Dmitry Sotnikov (Kamaz) +18m 58s

3. Gerard de Rooy (IVECO) +41m 19s

4. Federico Villagra (IVECO) +1h 00m 04s

5. Airat Mardeev (Kamaz) +2h 26m 50s

16. Ton van Genugten (IVECO) +6h 58m 03s

17. Wuf van Ginkel (IVECO) + 8h 19m 48s

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