Dakar 2016 Iveco on the Podium in Stage 2

The Dakar Rally finally got underway with the fast-moving Villa Carlos Paz-Termas de Río Hondo section. The Iveco fleet performed very well and took the podium at the end of the day.

The Dakar 2016 got underway after the difficulties of the first two days, and was again affected by bad weather, with 90 kilometres having to be cut out of the original route. In spite of the difficult terrain conditions, the Team PETRONAS De Rooy Iveco placed three trucks in the first 10 and one just outside, while first time pilot Team La Gloriosa De Rooy’s pilot Federico Villagra closed in 5th place.

The Iveco team got off to a strong start, with Gerard De Rooy’s Iveco Powerstar quickly closing in on title defender Ayrat Mardeev and finishing with the team’s best performance, in third place just 1 minute and 51 seconds from stage winner Hans Stacey.

Federico Villagra surprised everyone by dominating the race until past the halfway mark. The Argentine pilot, who was driving the Team La Gloriosa De Rooy's Iveco Powerstar, came in 5th place, followed by Aleš Loprais behind the wheel of his Iveco Powerstar, who was ahead of Ton van Genugten, who crossed the finish line 3 minutes and 40 seconds after the winner.

The Spanish pilot Pep Vila stuck with the Kamaz trucks and drove his Iveco Trakker across the finish line to take 12th place, 12 minutes and 8 seconds behind the winner.

Results Stage 2 and General Trucks