Tele Radio rides once again along with Firemen Dakarteam
Posted on November 12, 2021 at 10:27 am
THE GREEN FUTURE OF THE DAKAR RALLY
Car and motorsports have been the source of many innovations from the very beginning. Sooner or later, technologies in the fields of aerodynamics, fuel reduction, chassis and framework engineering, electronics, and power development will become available for mass production. Big brands are eager to join this hotspot of technological innovation, aided by race organizers who are yearning to showcase this innovative feature to millions of followers worldwide. The wiliness to take part in this development race reflects on the image of all participants and contributes to the broad and useful technical advancements of tomorrow. With global mobility getting more sustainable at a rapid pace, Dakar will also take major steps towards a more sustainable future over the next eight years.
In January 2021, the Dakar organization revealed its ambitious plans for the future of the rally in their “DakarFuture” plan. The plan includes an energy transition among the participating cars, trucks, and motorcycles as well as organizational wise regarding transport and encampment. The entire Saudi city of NEOM was chosen for the presentation of “DakarFuture”, a developing new living and working community that is fully focused on a sustainable society. With this location, the Dakar rally made its green ambitions crystal clear, strengthening its close bond with the country that will host the rally in 2020.
During the previous rally, a trial was held with a compact and efficient installation of solar panels for the generation, storing, and distribution of power within the encampment. The “DakarFuture” plan provides a step-by-step development strategy to realize a 100% energy-neutral encampment that should be reached by 2025.
After the first introduction of hybrid race cars and race trucks during the rally of 2021, the Dakar organization has created a special competition category created for vehicles powered by alternative energy. Very special initiatives can be expected within this category, such as several fully electrically powered race cars, various teams that will compete with hydrogen-powered cars and trucks, and many participants using the hybrid drive. The 2022 rally will be used to set the sporting rules for the future so that every form of propulsion could compete for the overall victory. A very ambitious emission standard awaits the participants for 2026 as a prelude to 2030, which is the year all participating teams must be energy neutral.
Since the start of the Dakar rally in 1979, the organization has never shied away from exploring unknown areas, without losing its sense of adventure. The Dakar rally has continuously worked on its future with new security measures and cutting-edge technology in the field of location determination, etc. The result of this is that the biggest brands in the industry look at the rally as a showcase opportunity for their techniques. Thanks to the new green plans, Dakar will continue to lead the way for participants, partners, and viewers in the future.
Tele Radio has extended its sponsorship contract with the Firemen Dakar team and will once again be visible on the firemen’s truck. In January 2022 they will participate in the grueling Dakar rally in Saudi Arabia.
The Firemen Dakar team will once again take on the desert. From January 2 to 14, the grueling competition will take place in Saudi Arabia. The start of this 44th edition of the Dakar rally is in Ha’il and goes via Riyadh to Jeddah. Along the way, participants will encounter the huge Empty Quarter. It is an area as gritty as it is mysterious, with vast expanses of sand and dunes, an area where even the heat-prepared firefighters will have to push themselves to the limit to stay in the race.
Tough IVECO Powerstar
The crew of the Firemen rally race truck, including the maintenance crew, consists entirely of firefighters. They once started with a reconditioned fire engine, but they now drive a tough IVECO Powerstar developed by Dakar icon Gerard de Rooy. Driver and team owner Richard de Groot will drive the rally together with navigator Mark Laan and chief mechanic Jan Hulsebosch. More information about the Firemen Dakarteam can be found at: https: //firemendakarteam.nl/.
Hoisting application sponsored
Tele Radio is visible not only with the familiar logo on the Dakartruck, but also with the hoist application put into use by the Firemen Dakarteam last year. This sponsored hoist can be hung both on the arm on the service truck, to load things on the roof, and on an overhead rail in the hospitality truck. This truck has a large luggage compartment at the back with a rail system for easy loading and unloading of items.
RALLY UPDATE
Saturday, January 1st
The first stage (1A) was a long ride of 614 kilometers from Jeddah to Hail, but only 19 kilometers were timed for the race. As expected, the Kamaz favorites had a rock-solid start and finished in places 1 to 4 out of a total of 56 participating trucks. The Tele Radio Firemen Dakar Team took no risk during this first day and finished at a nice 16th place with their Iveco, just behind the innovative low emission truck of Team Project 2030.
Sunday, January 2nd
On day 2 the teams really had to get going with a stage of 514 kilometers around Ha”il. Over 300 kilometers were timed for the rally in stage 1B. The Firemen Dakar Team showed perfect results by ending on place 9. This is also their overall ranking up to now.
Monday, January 3rd
Today a drive of more than 790 kilometers from Haíl to Al Qaisumah (stage 2). Around 330 kilometers were part of the race. Driver and teamcaptain Richard de Groot brought the Iveco to the finish on a nice 14th place. Overall for all three stages so far, there is a 10th place, with a backlog of around 90 minutes on the number 1 Kamaz of Dimitry Sotnikov. But the rally is still a long way to go!
Thuesday, January 4th
On the program of today is a roundtrip Al Qaisumah, as stage number 3. Over 255 tough racing kilometers. “Our” Firemen Dakar team has a stable pace and finished the stage at place number 12. In the general ranking the team is still on a nice 10th place.
Wednesday, January 5th
A top day for the Firemen Dakar Team. Stage 4 from Al Qaisumah to Riyadh over 707 kilometers of which 465 kilometers are timed for the race. The teams struggled a couple of days with rain, resulting in heavy and wet sand. There is also a tough competition. The team battled for 50 kilometers with two other trucks. On the finishline there was a beautiful 12th place, only 4 seconds before the next arriving truck. Overall the team is on place 10 in the general ranking.
Thursday, January 6th
Stage 5 was a loop around Riyadh, covering 346 timed kilometers for the race. For the navigator it was a challenging trip. The team had to turn around several times to find the waypoints. In the end they reached the 18th place. In the overall competition the team is still on position number 10.
Friday, January 7th
A very tough route due to heavy rains. Again a loop around Riyadh. As the stage is impassable for bikes and quads, their race was stopped half way. The trucks continue their battle like nothing happened. The competition was very close. It is important to keep calm, a little mistake can drop you way far back in the general ranking. The team ended on a nice 16th place. Place number 10 in the general ranking which is a marvelous performance in the field of more than 50 racing trucks.
Saturday, January 8th
A resting day. The rally is half way. Time to relax and do some maintenance.
Sunday, January 9 th
Stage number 7. What initially looked as a tremendous race with a 13th place and a 9th place in the general ranking, became a little disappointment due to a 15 minutes time penalty after crossing the line. The drive from Riyadh to Al Dawadimi covered 402 racing kilometers and went very well. But as said, there was a time penalty. But that is rally racing. Due to the time correction the team felt back to place 18. The position 9 in the general ranking was updated into place number 10.
Monday, January 10th
Stage 8 from Al Dawadimi to Wadi Ad Dawasir over 395 competition kilometers. At the head of the competition the usual fight between the 4 Kamaz trucks. While two truck teams had to withdraw, the Firemen are doing fine. They crossed the line in 9th (!) position, despite a time penalty of 10 minutes. In the overall ranking the team is on 10th place.
Thuesday, January 11th
Stage 9, a trip around Wadi Ad Dawasir over 287 kilometers in competition. At the finish line the Firemen Dakar team is 14th. In the general ranking the team is still on the 10th position. A great performance knowing that there were problems with the differential.
Wednesday, January 12th
After a night of hard working to repair the differential, the heat is on! With two stages to go, the Firemen Dakar Team is in ninth place in the general classification of the Dakar rally. The tenth stage of 375 kilometers from Ad Dawasir to Bisha became a prey for classification leader Sotnikov from Russia. The team of Richard de Groot became 13th. There are still two stages to go.
Thursday, January 13th
A great fight among the trucks in the top 10 of the general ranking. The 11th stage is the toughest of all. With heavy sand dunes over 346 km and a liaison of 155 km. The truck and team were doing well in this route from Wadi Ad Dawasir to Bisha and ended at place 11. In the overall ranking the team is still on a marvelous 9th place.
Friday, January 14th
The final stage, back to Jeddah from Bisha. A connecting route of 516 kilometers and a special of 164 kilometers in a battle for the last results. The Firemen Dakar team gave everything to maintain their great overall performance. The arrived in Jeddah at a 16th place. The best performance ever for the team overall as the finished at a 9th place. The goal that was set for this year, bringing the truck back within the top 10 is achieved! We congratulate the with this great result in this tough challenge.
Tele Radio supports the world wide preservation of the Tiger with WWF.