..:: AUTO REPORT AFRICA ::..
Related Articles
Following successful extensive testing in Spain and Morocco, the 2012 Dakar race-winning De Rooy team has chosen Goodyear ORD off-the-road truck tyres. These are in the size of 375/90R22.5 and will be fitted on three Iveco trucks the team has entered in the 2016 Dakar race called “The Odyssey”.
The Dakar is the world’s greatest off-road challenge for cars, motorcycles and trucks, and takes place in Argentina and Bolivia from January 3 to 16, 2016.
“We are delighted that the De Rooy team has chosen our Goodyear ORD off-the-road truck tyres in size 375/90R22.5 for the Dakar 2016. The intensive testing carried out showed that our truck tyres offer the team excellent performance in terms of traction, durability and robustness. These key elements are essential to be able to finish the demanding Dakar race in a winning position. For us, participation in one of the toughest off-road races with the De Rooy team is a great opportunity to demonstrate the performance of our ORD off-the-road truck tyres under the harshest of conditions. In addition, we generate valuable data and insight for the development of future truck tyres from this project. We look forward to January and wish the team every success in the Dakar,“ said Benjamin Willot, Director Marketing Commercial Tyres at Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa.
The Netherlands-based De Rooy team has entered three trucks that will be fitted with Goodyear ORD off road truck tyres in size 375/90R22.5. These comprise the main race truck, driven by Gerard De Rooy who won the truck class of the 2012 Dakar, the truck of the De Rooy team member Ales Loprais and the high-speed support truck driven by Ton van Genugten. The choice of Goodyear ORD tyres was made after extensive testing at the Baja rally in Spain in July 2015 and at the Oilibya Rally in Morocco in October 2015. During these test races, engineers from the Goodyear Innovation Center Luxembourg worked in conjunction with the team to achieve the best setup to optimize tyre performance in all the various conditions that competitors will have to face.
The truck tyre tested and which will be used during the Dakar is the Goodyear ORD in size 375/90R22.5. This size is unique to Goodyear and replaces the 14.00R20 fitment which was used before by the De Rooy team. The Goodyear ORD in 375/90R22.5 retains the same overall diameter and width as the 14.00R20 but the larger rim diameter provides greater brake clearance, and thereby gives better heat resistance.
Henk van Leuven, Team manager, De Rooy Rally team, added: “The testing we have carried out with Goodyear has proved what outstanding performance the Goodyear ORD off-the-road truck tyre offers and we are confident this is the best tyre for us for the Dakar race. The tyres are a key factor in our challenge to regain the top step of the podium in January and we are confident that with the Goodyear tyres we will achieve this goal.”
“The Odyssey” Dakar race 2016 takes place in Argentina and Bolivia from January 3 to 16, 2016. More than 660 competitors from over 50 countries and more than 400 motorcycles, quad bikes, cars and trucks are expected to participate in the 2016 race.
The programme of the Dakar 2016 is as follows:
03/01: Buenos Aires – Villa Carlos Paz
04/01: Villa Carlos Paz – Termas de Río Hondo
05/01: Termas de Río Hondo – Jujuy
06/01: Jujuy – Jujuy
07/01: Jujuy – Uyuni
08/01: Uyuni – Uyuni
09/01: Uyuni – Salta
10/01: Rest day in Salta
11/01: Salta – Belén
12/01: Belén – Belén
13/01: Belén – La Rioja
14/01: La Rioja – San Juan
15/01: San Juan – Villa Carlos Paz
16/01: Villa Carlos Paz – Rosario
