Both good and bad news came to the Renault-Team of MKR Technology during the 11th stage of Dakar Rally. While Janus van Kasteren`s Renault 4x4 did not manage to get to the start of the stage due to technical issues, the situation was saved by Gerd Huzink ranking as a 5th in the difficult stage. "Everyone is working on more than hundred percent, but we still struggle with time and tough conditions," said Mario Kress, leading designer of the Renault Trucks.

"Our toughness and great deployment of all the team members is just not enough in this extreme, so we did not manage to remedy Van Kasteren´s truck and therefore we were not in time for the start of 11th stage, which means the end of the rally for Janus. However, it is great that the mood could be improved by the other truck result, that shows that when a right combination comes, we can make the result. But we can do more,” noticed Kress.

The 11th stage was therefore not for Janus van Kasteren after his problems with transmission. On the route from Belén to Chilecito with total of almost 750 kilometers even the main favorites were in trouble. Russian Nikolaev lost his overall lead during the 280 timed kilometers as he lost almost 45 minutes to the stage winner, Belarussian Vjazovic. Just a minute after him finished Villagra from Argentina and moved straight to the overall lead. Gerd Huzink on Renault moved from the 13th to the 5th position and in overall ranking he closes the top ten.

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