Erik Van Loon will get behind the wheel of two new automobiles in Morocco when he assessments his Audi S1 earlier than tackling the Rallye du Maroc within the Can-Am Maverick R.
He plans to enter the Audi within the 2025 Dakar Basic, a aspect occasion to the Dakar Rally for historic automobiles. Van Loon did the primary rally from 2009 to 2023, however stopped afterwards because of the bodily toll that such a gruelling race had on him.
However, he has remained concerned within the sport by doing races just like the Morocco Desert Problem and Baja Aragón. South Racing Can-Am ready a Maverick R for him on the former, the place he dominated earlier than retiring with a late mechanical subject.
South finally refined the Maverick R earlier than unveiling the FIA-spec model final week. The Maverick R been extraordinarily profitable since its reveal in August 2023, primarily in American desert racing however with achievements in cross-country rally that embrace successful the World Rally-Raid Championship‘s Desafío Ruta 40 Open Automobiles class in June.
Hein Verschuuren will once more function his navigator for the Rallye du Maroc on 6–11 October. Van Loon retired from the 2023 version, the place he competed within the Challenger class; the Maverick R is meant for the production-based SSV division.
“Switching from the Audi to a Can-Am is sort of a change,” mentioned Van Loon. “South Racing has constructed a brand new T4, and we’ll be driving that. The competitors on this class may be very sturdy, and the sphere in Morocco is often well-filled. Our important objective is to complete and keep away from any issues as that hasn’t been attainable in the previous couple of rallies. As soon as we really feel assured within the automobile, we will improve our velocity and see the place we stand within the subject.”
In the meantime, his Audi S1 was constructed by Dutch historic rally driver Coen Donkers. Though he is not going to be racing it in Morocco, the nation’s desert panorama is a chief location for individuals who wish to put together for the Dakar in Saudi Arabia.
“It’s all the time good to go to Morocco, particularly to check for the Dakar Rally,” he continued. “You may actually push the automobile to its limits there and set up a strong basis by way of setup. We’ve already pushed the Audi just a few occasions, however not below these circumstances.
“After all, the Dakar Basic is totally different from the ‘common’ Dakar, however the automobile nonetheless must carry out properly and we have to perceive its capabilities. I’m actually wanting ahead to driving it.”
The 2025 Dakar Basic runs concurrent with the Dakar Rally on 3–17 January. His spouse Anja Van Loon is entered within the latter, the place she is going to race a truck.
