Iveco has capped off a successful 2023 Dakar Rally campaign with experienced Dutch driver Janus van Kasteren clinching victory in an event that covered more than 8500 kilometres over 14 gruelling stages.
The 45th instalment of the race also saw Eurol Team De Rooy entrants Martin van den Brink and Mitchel van den Brink guide their respective Iveco Powerstar race trucks into third and fourth places.
The three vehicles, including van Kasteren’s Boss Machinery De Rooy Iveco Powerstar, were all powered by high output Fiat Powertrain 13 litre engines capable of producing over 900 horsepower.
Iveco’s strong Dakar Rally performance this year expands the brand’s impressive legacy in the event which also included wins in 2016 and 2012 along with many podium finishes.
Iveco Australian-NZ managing director Michael May says the brand’s off-road range boasted a tremendous pedigree, with advancements and testing gained in the theatre of competition filtering through to local showroom models.
“Participation and ongoing success in the Dakar Rally confirm the reliability of Iveco trucks and the brand’s commitment to research, development and testing in extreme environments,” May says.
“Iveco has one of the strongest off-road ranges available in Australia, with buyers able to choose from a wide selection of vehicles spanning the light, medium and heavy-duty weight classes,” he says.
A further connection exists between the race vehicles and Iveco Australia-NZ in the ‘Powerstar’ nameplate.
“Powerstar was a road-going model developed in Australia and the truck’s distinctive sloping bonnet is still being used on the Powerstar racing trucks,” May adds.
The Iveco off-road range begins with the Daily 4×4 with 7t GVM and extends to the medium duty Eurocargo 4×4 at 15t GVM, which is a favourite platform for emergency service work.
For heavier duty applications up to 33t GVM, there’s the Trakker 4×4 and 6×6 range which is ideal for mining and exploration work, while the Astra 6×6 and 8×8 models offer GVMs of up to 48t, making them ideal for off-road tipper duties, along with drilling and exploration.
May says that Iveco’s Dakar Rally win would continue to raise the profile of the brand’s off-road models.
“Iveco is gaining a stellar reputation in demanding off-road motorsports and local buyers of our trucks should be buoyed in the knowledge that our vehicles are making an impact and proving themselves in the world’s toughest environments.
“We’re also looking forward to bolstering our off-highway offerings later in the year with the introduction of the new T-Way.”
