Rally Raid UK are back again for the 30th Anniversary Dakar – again starting in Lisbon on the 5th January and racing across North Africa to Dakar. This year Rally Raid are directly supporting five bikers and nine Desert Warrior cars with a further 8 competitors providing their own support. Every competitor with Rally Raid UK is a privateer funding their own entry to the Dakar and following in the footsteps of many other ordinary people aiming for their dream.
Izhar Armony and Nadav Armoni are brothers from the States & Italy. Their first timers at the Dakar but you can read more about them on Izhars blog which can be found here. They have the true Dakar spirit – watched it on TV for years… Have to do it rather than watch. They have been training with Rally Raid for the last two years in Morocco so have a good foundation for the rally and a desire to succeed. You can sign up to Izhars and Nadav's Maindru photosets during the Dakar by clicking here.
Marcel's back for more – the flying Dutchman has joined up with his fellow countryman Henk, rebuilt his car from last year and it's unfortunate roll but incorporated some of this years feature changes and is back for more fun. You can read all about Marcel's and Henk's preparations, if you speak Dutch that is, here on their web site.
Eugen and Marius are another pair of first timers with at the Dakar with Rally Raid UK. They have a brand new 2007 model Desert Warrior race car and like Izhar and Glen they have been practising in the deserts of Morocco this year. With past experience of WRC style events the pair are hardly inexperienced at this type of sport but the Dakar is sure to provide some new challenges for them not least of which is the sand of Mauritania
BD & Milly – last year BD and Milly ran the assistance group so this year the husband and wife pair return to do race support for all the Rally Raid UK Desert Warriors in the Anniversary Dakar.
You can sign up to BD and Milly's Maindru photosets during the Dakar by clicking here
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Joris Mattijs and his friend Jan have come all the way from Belgium to join in with our other nationalities in Lisbon on the event. With there own L200 pickup assistance crew of Paul and Ivan (who speaks no English).
Evert Kroon with his school friend Gerald Rond are back again with Rally Raid UK. Hot on their successes last year on bikes (??) Evert is up for another crack of the whip but this time in his Desert Warrior rather than on a bike.
Testing went well in October in Morocco and both Gerald and Evert returned to Holland ready for the event.
Ian Rochelle and Chris Hammond join up with the rest of the Rally Raid UK British contingent looking for a finish this year he returns with loads of commitment and enthusiasm.
More at home rebuilding 14th century buildings the pair with their mechanic Richard are poised for the fun and games that this Dakar is sure to deliver.
Paul Green returns with Mark Eland to fight another year and this time in the Rally raid UK prototype independent suspension car. Mark Eland has changed from bikes to cars this year – 'I fancy a seat this time' he says in his normal Australian wit.
Watch out for their progress in this years Dakar in this one off car. For some sneak pictures of the prototype testing in Morocco this year have a look here.
Glen and Dez have a long history in Kenya of WRC when Glens at home he teaches people defensive driving skill's so he has some experience to count on but like Eugen he realises that the desert often holds surprises for him that he and Dez are ready to take on.
This year's event is the start of a planned campaign on the Dakar with there target this time simply to understand the game better. Check out Glen and Dez's web site here.
T4 race support – with the number of privateers coming with Rally Raid UK this year we have two T4 race assistance trucks entered both under the watchful eye of our resident Frenchman Michel. With more years of experience in Dakar's that I care to count Michel works to deliver race support to the team of cars and bikes.
Tom Classen, our resident South African – well he just can't keep away and after last years successes he's back with Rally Raid UK for his January holiday on a new series KTM690 and a full assistance package from Rally Raid UK.
By special request Bernie returns to help keep his bike in the land of the living after Toms had one of those hard day at the office moments in the desert. More words about Tom here.
Ingo Waldschimdt is along for the first time in the Dakar on a KTM690 he tells us he knows a thing or two about chickens and is ready to add to his desert racing experience with this years Dakar.
Quite possibly the first Namibian biker that we know of he's along with Rally Raid UK again on a KTM690 full assistance package. You can sign up to Ingo's Maindru photosets during the Dakar by clicking here
Albert Hintenaus, another biker from South Africa, returns for another bite of the Dakar cherry this time on a KTM 690 he's bringing Clint along to help keep his bike upto speed.
Robert Streak makes up our trio of South Africans for this year, on his own KTM 690 he is again a rookie to the Dakar but brings along loads of experience from local Rally's around his home town.
Henrik Rahm, the Swedish contingent, is our last rookie to this years Dakar on his KTM 660, after trying out in the Rally Maroc and in various adventure rides Henrik decided that watching was just something he could not keep doing and he had to give it a try in person. The Dakar offers Henrik the combination of travel and adventure that he craves.
Martin and Paul win this years prize of running the assistance area for Rally Raid UK, three F350's a Landrover discover and a Scania 6by6 truck. Between them they have many years of Dakar experience and look to deliver a smooth service area for the duration of this years Rally.
That's also not forgetting Henky, Chap, Richard M, Client, Bernie, Jon, Roger, Glen, Gerrit, Marcel, Arjan, Richard G, Jacobus, Didier, Chaarly, Piere, Pavel & Ian who have all given up their January for no wages to help out.
