Iveco

 After 13 Dakars in bikes, cars, quads and trucks, Kees Koolen expects 2023 to be his final event in a fossil fuel vehicle. ‘Project 2030’ brings together 25 clean energy companies, academic R&D by the Green Box clean energy campus in Hengelo and a futuristic racing truck named ‘Nicias’. Its goal is to replace the fossil fuel and hybrid powerplants currently used by heavy vehicles with a fully electric system. The cherry on the cake is an all-electric Dakar truck, with batteries charged during and after the race using 100% clean energy, which Koolen expects to have ready to race in 2024. This year’s Dakar should thus be their last with the Iveco Powerstar, with testing of the new electric vehicle due to commence in May. Koolen finished 13th at the Dakar last season with Wouter de Graaff as his co-driver, and then finished the year as the leader of the W2RC. De Graaff switches to mechanic this year, with Wouter Rosegaar drafted in at short notice. Second in last year’s T3 class as co-driver for Sebastian Eriksson, Rosegaar was again expecting to navigate for the Swedish Rallycross star.  But late budget issues forced Eriksson to withdraw and, after sealing a deal with Koolen, Rosegaar returns to the truck category for what will be his 16th Dakar. Prior to joining forces with Eriksson, Rosegaar partnered WRC star Kris Meeke in the 2021 prototype class, winning the prologue plus three stages.