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NEWS
Iveco dominates in the Africa Eco Race
Truck category victory goes to Gerard De Rooy from Team Petronas De Rooy IvecoThe Africa Eco Race 2018 edition is over and after 12 stages and 6500 km across three countries – Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal –over fast rocky tracks and challenging dunes, the drivers and their crews have reached the shores of Lake Rose in Senegal to celebrate the winners and the big achievements of the rally.
Gerard De Rooy, leader of team Petronas De Rooy Iveco, won in the truck category, having maintained the lead throughout the rally.
The final stage saw the drivers compete in a short, final burst in the traditional last leg around Lake Rose, near Dakar. The crowds were out in force to encourage the competitors and celebrate the winners as they took their place on the podium on the beach of the lake.
Dutchman De Rooy understandably pleased with his rally: "I enjoyed both the beautiful specials and the toughness. That was what it was all about in the first place: having fun again. They were long specials, but still short days because we had almost no connection. I really look back on it with a very good feeling."
Dakar Rally
Meanwhile, in South America, the three Iveco Powerstars are delivering consistently high performances and achieving top 10 places in the two stages after the rest day in the Dakar Rally.
In stage 7, Ton Van Genugten took the lead and never let go, winning the special two minutes ahead of teammate Federico Villagra, with Artur Ardavichus following 18 minutes later in seventh place.
Stage 8 took the competitors on the 381km timed stage that ended the marathon day between the Bolivian cities of Uyuni and Tupiza. The tracks were no big hazard for the Iveco crews in the world’s toughest Rally Raid: in spite of the heavy rain and flooded roads, the three Iveco Powerstars piloted by Federico Villagra, Ton Van Genugten and Artur Ardavichus reached the finish line of the special – and all three in the Top 10.
Federico Villagra continued to deliver podium places, crossing the finish line of stages 7 and 8 in second place. The Argentinian, who is aiming for victory through a consistent performance, is steadily closing in on leader Eduard Nikolayev.
Ton Van Genugten followed his win in the stage 7 with a sixth place in the Uyuni-Tupiza special of stage 8, finishing 15 minutes behind the leader.
Artur Ardavichus also delivered a consistent performance, completing stage 7 in seventh place and stage 8 in ninth, maintaining his position in the Top 10 of the overall classification.
Due to bad weather in the south of Bolivia and north of Argentina, the organisers decided to cancel Stage 9 (Tupiza – Salta).
The competitors still have seven more stages to go before the finish in Cordoba. We’ll bring you the final placings when they come to hand.
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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