Dakar 2014: Gerard De Rooy finishes a strong second place in Dakar 2014 – three Ivecos in the top ten
Watford, January 20, 2014
Iveco secured a strong second place in Dakar 2014, with Gerard De Rooy once again behind the wheel of a Powerstar. The battle for the top step of the podium came down to the wire for the Dutch driver who fought until the last second of the race, beaten by the narrowest of margins by Audrey Karginov in a Kamaz.
After yielding ground during the eleventh stage, De Rooy was unable to catch-up with his rival, just missing out on the opportunity to re-live the success achieved in the 2012 Dakar, despite the great perseverance and persistence he demonstrated up to the chequered flag.
The other members of Team Petronas De Rooy Iveco also finished well: Dutchman Hans Stacey, driving an Iveco Trakker Evolution 3, took seventh place in the standings, Spaniard Pep Vila and Frenchman Jo Adua took 10th and 22nd place respectively, both behind the wheel of an Iveco Trakker Evolution 2.
De Rooy said immediately after he finished the last stage of Dakar 2014: “It was a tough test. It was not a good idea to have the trucks and cars start together. That was also the case last year and we told A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation). Eventually I did everything that was in my power. I had hoped that would be enough. We can at least be very satisfied with the team, our Iveco trucks and our performance.”
Beyond the final result of the race, however, it is important that all the Iveco vehicles which started at the beginning of January from Rosario crossed the finish line at Valparaíso: an excellent result that confirms the reliability, efficiency and durability of the vehicles. Specially adapted to suit the extreme terrain and climate of the Dakar, the trucks were based on factory produced models which were optimised for high energy efficient performance.
Over three years Iveco has written a piece of history in the most famous rally in the world: victory in 2012, a strong placing for three drivers in 2013, two of which finished in the top ten, and a second place in 2014, achieved after approximately 10,000 kilometres of hard-fought rallying. The 2014 running of the Dakar was a particularly challenging testing ground for Iveco to confirm the robustness of its vehicles, putting each individual component under extreme stress.
The vehicles that competed in the Dakar 2014 were equipped with Cursor 13 engines, each with a displacement of 13 litres and capable of producing 900 hp and a peak torque of 1,100 Nm at 3,800 rev/min. High power, rapid load response, maximum robustness and reliability are the main characteristics of these engines that use the same technology as the newly introduced Euro VI engines for Iveco’s heavy range vehicles.
The Dakar is the most important off-road rally in the world and captures the attention of millions of fans every year. It started on 5 January from Rosario in Argentina and finished on 18 January at Valparaíso, in Chile. This year's event was the longest Dakar since the competition arrived in South America. The route covered more than 9,000 kilometres in total, 5,000 of which were special trials. There were a total of 13 stages to reach the Chilean port of Valparaíso, having crossed the highest mountain of the Andes in Bolivia. This year the Dakar once again proved to be a challenge of resistance, largely determined by the reliability and sturdiness of the vehicles in the race.
For further information please visit www.iveco.com/Dakar, which includes access to all the photographic material collected during the event.
Iveco at the Dakar since 1982
The history of the Paris-Dakar began way back in 1977, but only the 1980 rally saw the participation of trucks for the first time. In 1982 the Dakar adventure also began for Iveco, a long journey full of extraordinary results and unforgettable moments. This experience, which saw Iveco involved only as a technical partner, led to the South American rally of 2011, in which Iveco participated as an official manufacturer's team.
In 2012 Iveco obtained the most important result with Gerard De Rooy and his team, achieving 1st, 2nd and 6th place in the overall standings.
Iveco
Iveco is a brand of CNH Industrial N.V., a World leader in Capital Goods listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CNHI) and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario of the Borsa Italiana (MI: CNHI). Iveco
designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, off-road trucks, city and intercity buses and coaches as well as special vehicles for applications such as firefighting, off-road missions, defence and civil protection. Iveco employs over 26,000 individuals globally. It manages production sites in 11 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and Latin America where it produces vehicles featuring the latest advanced technologies. 5,000 sales and service outlets in over 160 countries guarantee technical support wherever an Iveco vehicle is at work.
For more on Iveco visit: www.iveco.com
For more on CNH Industrial visit: www.cnhindustrial.com
For more information contact:
Nigel Emms, Press and Public Relations Director
Iveco Ltd
Tel. +44 (0)1923 259513
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