Dear rally fans,
The past year has been one of ups and downs, disappointments and highlights, but with a fantastic rally in Tunisia as the climax. In this mail we put the winners of this great first edition of the Tunisia Desert Challenge in the spotlight. In the meantime, we are already busy with new preparations: Morocco in April, but also to Tunisia in October 2022!
TUNISIA DESERT CHALLENGE 2021: YOU WERE FANTASTIC!
I admit, the preparation for the TDC was anything but ideal: a short run-up period, a new country, new local suppliers, a lot of administrative issues and a fourth corona wave in Europe … We had a lot on our plate, but the overall positive reactions at the finish arch didn’t lie: it was a great rally!
With about 460 people in the bivouac, the field of participants was a lot smaller than what we are used to in Morocco, but that did not make the atmosphere and the competition any less intense. Beautiful bivouacs in Ksar Ghilane and the legendary Star Wars site of Nefta combined with 8 challenging specials, which alternated between endless dunes and fast, sandy tracks that were certainly enjoyed by the participants. For many, the tough dune stage of SS5 (with almost 200 km of dunes) was one that they will remember for a long time.
In the motorcycle category, Mario Patrao has fully lived up to his favorite role on the KTM 450 Rally Replica. With 5 stage victories the Portuguese rider was nearly untouchable. Second place went to the young Chilean Tomas De Gavardo, whose father achieved great successes here 20 years ago, closely followed by the Belgian Gwen Backx who manged to secure a 3rd place.
The SSV category had an extensive field of participants, with Martin van den Brink of the Mammoet Rallysport as one of the most striking participants. Van den Brink is no stranger to our rallies and has already won several times the MDC, behind the wheel of his Renault Truck. This time he opted for an SSV, and for a female navigator Lisette Bakker. Not only did they win their category, but they were also the fastest participants of the entire rally, faster even than Patrao (ex-factory rider KTM) on the motorcycle. Second was the French duo Richard Doux & Astrid Callier. The Dutch Jasper Versteijnen & Jelle Van Limpt closed the podium with a third place.
In the car & buggy category, the competition was fierce between the number 304 Schoolderman/Salomons in the Mitsubishi ASX and the number 308 Henrard Dunbee of father and son Lambilliotte. It remained an exciting battle until the final stage where both duos were only a few minutes apart in the standings. In the end Schoolderman and Salomons put things in order with a stage win in SS8. First place for Schoolderman/Salomons and a creditable 2nd for father and son Philippe & Nicolas Lambilliotte. Belgians Vincent Thijs & Tom De Leeuw finished in a commendable 3rd place.
For a long time, the truck competition was led by the Hungarian Fazekas team, until they lost a lot of time in the 5th stage due to technical breakdown. They rolled out the red carpet for the Ex-Dakar team of Eimbert Timmermans. The Hungarians made up for a lot of time in the following stages, but Timmermans did not give up that lead and became the winner in the truck category, together with Niels Peters & Koen Hendriks. Second on the podium were the Belgians Paul Verheyden, Kurt Keysers & Bjorn Burgelman with their DAF. The Italian MAN with crew Paolo Calabria, Giulio Verzeletti and Loris Calubini ended in a 3rd place.
If you want to check all the photos, videos, reports and results, also from the different subcategories, have a look at www.tunisia-desert-challenge.com
MOROCCO DESERT CHALLENGE 2022: IT’S NOW OR NEVER
The next rally on the agenda is the MDC2022. Due to the postponement of the 2020 and 2021 editions, this one is (with 1200 registered participants) almost full. There are only about 50 places left. So don’t miss out!
The big brother of the Tunisia Desert Challenge will take place next year from April 21 to 30, and as usual you can expect a lot of high-level rally-raid action: a completely new road book and massive bivouacs with all confort and top catering.
If you would like to attend, you have to be quick. We also suggest you register before 30 November 2021. From December onwards the price will go up!
TUNISIA DESERT CHALLENGE 2022: THE SAGA CONTINUES
The previous edition has only just been completed, but that does not prevent us from already looking ahead to next year. Yes, there will be a sequel in 2022 and I can already guarantee you the passage through El Borma, the mythical place of the old rallies of Tunisia. Make a note of October 21 to 30 in your agenda for the TDC2022.
