The Dutch Dakar Team Holland, driving the only Tatra Phoenix in the Dakar, finished 33rd in the first stage, but is still missing in the rankings of the 2nd stage. Their website http://www.dakarteamholland.nl/ hasn’t said anything about their fate until now, so the wondering has started. The team suffered from large problems the last year. Two years ago they retired, last year, driver Marcel Schoo flipped his Tatra and could not continue. This year Marcel Schoo’s goal was simple: Get the Phoenix to the finish. Bad luck again struck the team last december, when Marcel Schoo encountered medical problems and had to replaced by Pierre Blom. When one sees their professional approach, their Phoenix service truck etc, they deserve more.
UPDATE: Today we experienced that the Phoenix is still in! The crew however missed three waypoints and to avoid disqualification, turned back with the consequence of loosing three hours. The Phoenix finished last of all trucks, after midnight at 2-30 a.m local time today. Crossing the dunes in the dark was hard, especially as the sand was dark as well, forcing the crew to be cautious.