Riwald Team rest day report

Erik Wevers and Fabian Lurquin: night in the desert

#314 Mitsubishi: Bernhard Ten Brinke, Matthieu Baumel

Photo by: Riwald Dakar Team

Erik Wevers had his worst day so far! Wevers and his Belgian co-driver Fabian Lurquin decided to stay overnight in the desert – it was not safe to continue driving in the dark. The rest day was very welcome for them – and for many others!

“But than we had another incident – we got stuck in one of the dunes with the front pointing downhill – and that resulted in a lack of fuel going to the engine…. We had to dig the car out for several hours again and than it was dark. It was not safe to continue over the steep and high dunes so we decided to overnight in the desert. Than we wanted to leave early this morning, but due to the fog we had to wait a little longer.” In the end Wevers finished the stage this morning in 94th place! “That is a pity, since we did so well until this stage…But we are very motivated to continue the rally and deliver a few good day results!”

Telephone call for Richard Huzink from Paris…

Richard Huzink did not only help out his team mate Erik Wevers during the stage on Saturday. He also received a call from Paris, from the organizers: a camera crew needed assistance and Richard was nearest apparently. So they rescued the camera crew and still Huzink drove a fantastic stage, finishing in 28th position, being the last truck to arrive in the bivouac. “It was tough, and there are still many trucks stranded, so I am very pleased that we made it!”

Bernhard ten Brinke: special service to the ASO

During the rest day the teams and the drivers had time to relax, study the road book for the next day and to get a nice massage from the team’s chiropractor. Bernhard ten Brinke also tested the dampers of the Mitsubishi Racing Lancer and decided to go a bit softer! Also he was asked to deliver a special service to the ASO, the Dakar organizers. The President of the ASO and some special guests from sponsor Rolex were taken by Bernhard ten Brinke on a short co-drive in the dunes! “They really enjoyed it – and for me it was good to do some driving and to stay focused. The next week is going to be very important for my final classification!”

After the well deserved rest day the remaining teams will restart on Monday with a tough stage, starting from Copiapo and finishing 722 kms further north in Antofagasta, situated at the South Pacific Ocean coast. The special stage is not less than 477 kms long and will most probably bring more drama for the bikes, trucks and cars!