Goodyear supports Team De Rooy with tyres, TPMS in Dakar 2024 rally

Goodyear is supporting Team De Rooy at the Dakar 2024 rally, which begins today, the latest instalment in the ongoing partnership between the companies. Goodyear is the official tyre supplier of the Dutch team, fitting Goodyear Offroad high-performance tyres and supplying its tyre management solutions in every stage of the competition. Team De Rooy will monitor its three entries’ tyre temperature and pressure levels in real time with Goodyear’s TPMS to respond to challenges and minimise downtime on the rally. Goodyear said that its support “underscores the company’s enduring commitment to truck motorsport;” it is also the title sponsor of the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC). Goodyear says it uses the challenges it faces in truck racing as a testing ground for advancing tyre technologies and product development.

Maciej Szymański, marketing director commercial Europe at Goodyear: “The role played by Goodyear tyres and TPMS was very important in securing Team De Rooy’s victory last year. Drawing on this triumph, we eagerly anticipate a similarly exceptional performance in the upcoming Dakar, highlighting our dedication to providing unwavering support for Team De Rooy.”

Goodyear Offroad tyres and TPMS helped Team De Rooy win the Dakar 2023 (Photo: Goodyear)

Team De Rooy said Goodyear Offroad tyres play an important role in the Dakar. Compliant with competition regulations, these tyres offer robustness and superior traction across various terrains, including sand, rocks, steep inclines, and descents. The Goodyear Offroad’s design reduces heat generation at high speeds, supporting durability in extreme conditions such as Saudi Arabia deserts.

Meanwhile, Goodyear TPMS is integrated seamlessly into Team De Rooy trucks, providing continuous monitoring of tyre pressure and temperature. This integration empowers the team to dynamically adjust their rally strategy based on real-time assessments of road conditions and tyre performance. The advanced solutions not only assist in tracking tyre temperature and pressure levels but are also instrumental in enabling the team to respond promptly to some challenges that may arise, thereby reducing the risk of extended downtime. This is crucial, as downtime could potentially result in the loss of precious time throughout the entirety of the rally.

Starting in AlUla on 5 January, the Dakar 2024 traverses Saudi Arabia, culminating in Yanbu on the Red Sea coast on 19 January. The 14-day event, encompassing 1 prologue and 12 stages, will cover 5,000km, with 60 per cent of the route comprised of entirely new sections. promising a fresh and challenging experience for participants.

In the 2024 Dakar edition, Team De Rooy will field three trucks, each geared up for victory:

• #600 Boss Machinery Team De Rooy FPT: Pilot/Driver Janus van Kasteren Jr., Navigator Marcel Snijders, and Mechanic Darek Rodewald aim to defend their title.
• #622 Becx Competition Team De Rooy FPT: Pilot/Driver Michiel Becx, Navigator Edwin Kuijpers, and Mechanic Wuf van Ginkel, winners of the Rallye du Maroc 2023, are primed for another triumph.
• #618 Ladies Team De Rooy FPT: Driver Anja van Loon, Navigator Floor Maten, and Mechanic Marije van Ettekoven make history as the first Dutch women’s team in the Dakar Rally, following their successful collaboration in the Rally du Maroc.