Equipes competing
Let’s introduce ourselves:
We are Team de Rooy and we build the fastest rallytrucks in the world.
Dakar 2023
We build custom racetrucks with our reliable partners and make sure that you are the quickest to cross the finishline. And no worries during a rally event; we service and maintain all our vehicles with the best mechanics available.
Choose your vehicle:
502
Janus van Kasteren
504
Vick Versteijnen
506
Martin van den Brink
511
Mitchel van den Brink
IVECO Powerstar Torpedo 2023
Race no. 502
Best of the rest behind an all-Kamaz top four last year means Janus Van Kasteren, Marcel Snijders and Darek Rodewald are among the firm truck favourites for 2023. But Van Kasteren is under no illusions, warning that despite the Kamaz absence plenty of fast competitors remain, not least his own De Rooy team-mates. 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 and 2016, plus our further podiums.
Driver
Janus van Kasteren
This will be my third year with De Rooy and I have a good feeling about it. Everyone thinks without Kamaz it should be easy to be on the podium, but there are other strong competitors – including my own team-mates of course.
Co-driver
Marcel Snijders
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 fourth time in Saudi Arabia.
Mechanic
Darek Rodewald
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 twelve times, winning twice and finishing on the podium several more times.
IVECO Powerstar Torpedo 2023
Race no. 504
Victor Versteijnen returns to Dakar looking to improve upon his top ten finish from last year, a result achieved despite having had very little time to prepare for the event. A last minute stand-in for the unwell Hans Stacey, Versteijnen nevertheless rallied to a career best eighth by the finish and comes into the 2023 Dakar – his third with the Boss Machinery Team De Rooy Iveco team – with his sights set higher.
Driver
Vick Versteijnen
This will be my third year at Team De Rooy and this time I have my own people and my own mechanic, which I have known for a long time, plus my navigator Teun van Dahl has been a friend of mine since I was five years-old.
Co-driver
Andre van der Sande
This is my fourth Dakar and second time with Victor. We are real friends and all three of us make a good team in the cabin. We really understand each other. As the mechanic, one of my main jobs is to prepare the truck before the event.
Mechanic
Teun van Dal
The Dakar has been my dream since a young boy. My first was in 2015 when I went as team manager for Vic. We did 2015, 2016 and 2017, then in 2018 I moved into the truck as navigator. I also drive in some local rallies, WRC-style, so not only cross country.
IVECO Powerstar Torpedo 2023
Race no. 506
Driver
Martin van den Brink
Martin has driven alot of rallyraids and is highly experienced.
Co-driver
Rijk Mouw
With his years of navigational experience, Peter is one of the best rallyraid navigators in the world
Mechanic
Erik Kofman
We as a team couldn’t do without Bernard, he has been around since the 80’s.
IVECO Powerstar Torpedo 2023
Race no. 511
With a driver that’s 20 years-old and a mechanic that’s 23, the Euro Team De Rooy Iveco squad certainly has youth on its side for two-thirds of the line-up, with driver Mitchel van der Brink following in his father’s footsteps with near-neighbour Jarno van de Pol acting as mechanic.
Bringing experience to the table is co-driver Moi Torrallardona, who points out that his age is more than the combined ages of his two team-mates!
Driver
Mitchel van den Brink
“My father started the Dakar in 2008 and since then I’ve had an interest. I’ve been involved in working on the project and especially in the technical aspects since I was young. I would test the trucks as a mechanic, but also driving them since I was 14. I’m really happy to participate with the new Iveco. We tested in Morocco and it’s a comfortable truck, so I’m looking forward to making the most of our new engine in this truck.
Co-driver
Moi Torrallardona Jou
It’s going to be my 14th or 15th Dakar, but I’ve never contested the event in Saudi Arabia, just South Africa and South America. It’s a great challenge for me to do Saudi because everything is different, so I’m looking forward to it. I’ve worked with the team in different roles over the years. I know Mitchel’s father well and I know Jarno.
Mechanic
Jarno van de Pol
As a mechanic I have a lot of experience, but not as a mechanic in the truck. So many things are new, but we did some testing in Morocco and honestly, everything felt great. There will be a lot of work to do -it’s not just about sitting next to my team-mates and paying attention to the tyre pressures! I’ve been working on my physical condition and making sure I know everything I can about the truck so I’m as prepared as I can be for this great event.