Anja Van Loon and her husband Erik Van Loon will return to Saudi Arabia in 2025, albeit with some twists. Whereas the previous might be within the now-familiar confines of a truck contesting the Dakar Rally, the latter will make his début within the Dakar Basic as the motive force of an Audi S1.
Erik raced the Dakar Rally from 2009 to 2023 with a greatest end of fifth in 2015. His thirteenth and final start in 2023 started with a second-place end in Stage #2 earlier than retiring with a rollover five legs later. Though he continues to run rally raids at this time, the Dakar is simply too bodily demanding for him to proceed.
In distinction, the Dakar Basic is a navigation-based rally that makes use of autos constructed earlier than 1999, that means there’s considerably much less strain and bodily toll. His Audi S1 is being ready by Coen Donkers, a fellow Dutchman who competes in historic rallies and the Goodwood Pageant of Pace in Audi duplicate vehicles. Donkers and Audi Sport Veghel are additionally constructing Dakar Basic challengers for native drivers like Hans Stacey, the 2007 Dakar Rally Truck winner.
“The Dakar Basic is a regularity rally the place the main target isn’t on velocity however on the expertise and driving by means of Saudi Arabia,” commented Erik. “Anja might be driving the truck once more and I might be there anyway so I discover it enjoyable to take part. This fashion, I can nonetheless assist her and likewise see a few of the nation. I’ll do that with an Audi S1, which I examined final week in France, and it’s simply loads of enjoyable to drive. Coen Donkers is constructing the automobile and can construct a couple of extra for another former Dakar individuals from the world, so we’ve a pleasant group collectively.”
After ending fourteenth in T3 (now Challenger) at her first Dakar Rally in 2023, Anja switched to an IVECO truck for the 2024 version. She led an all-female staff with Flooring Maten and Marije van Ettekoven as co-driver and mechanic, the primary truck crew composed of strictly girls since 2004. Racing for Group de Rooy, she completed twelfth in class with a greatest stage end of ninth twice in Levels #5 and #7.
For 2025, nonetheless, she expects to have a co-ed staff and defined, “I don’t know but precisely what that may appear to be by way of composition. In any case, it is not going to be with three girls.”
Though retired from the Dakar, Erik continues to make sporadic rallly begins in numerous Bajas and World Rally-Raid Championship rounds in a Can-Am Maverick for South Racing. He and Anja will race Mavericks within the upcoming Morocco Desert Challenge on 11–20 April.
