VDR Truck Racing, the rally team supported by Ford Trucks, will compete with Ford Trucks trucks for the first time in the Dakar 2019 Rally. Two special prototype Ford Trucks trucks, designed by Ford Otosan engineers for the world's toughest race, will be driven by Dakar 2009 race winners Yves Rutten and Peter Van Delm. The countdown has begun for the 2019 edition of the Dakar Rally, the world's toughest off-road marathon. Belgian VDR Truck Racing (VDR Truck Racing Team), supported by Ford Trucks, will also compete in the marathon to be held in Lima, Peru, in South America between 6 and 17 January 2019. Bringing together the winners of the Dakar 2009 race, Yves Rutten and Peter Van Delm, the team will compete against their rivals with Ford Trucks trucks for the first time this year. Ford Otosan in Turkey and VDR Truck Racing in Belgium joined forces to develop 2 prototype racing trucks that will participate in the world's toughest race. The vehicles that Ford Trucks sent to Dakar 2019 were designed with the support of Ford Otosan R&D Center and were made as prototypes with racing parts in the VDR Racing workshop in Belgium. The trucks, which were later assembled in cooperation with Ford Trucks engineers and VDR Truck Racing technical team, were tested in real rally conditions and prepared for the world's toughest race.

“As Ford Trucks, we support motor sports worldwide”

Stating that Ford Trucks supports motor sports on a global scale, Ford Trucks Deputy General Manager Serhan Turfan said, “As Ford Trucks, one of the largest manufacturers in the international heavy commercial vehicle market, we combine our truck production experience of up to 60 years with our ability to develop products that meet the needs of the market. While we continue our growth in Central and Eastern Europe, following the Middle East, Africa, Russia and the Turkic Republics, we also invest and support motor sports as an international brand. In this context, we have carried forward the support we have been providing to VDR Truck Racing since 2016 with a new collaboration this year. Within the scope of this cooperation, our Ford Trucks trucks, which we designed and produced in Turkey, will compete in the Dakar Rally for the first time. We believe that the vehicles we tested under the conditions where the marathon will take place will be successful in the Dakar race with their durability and power. We are very happy to cooperate with a globally successful team with champion drivers like VDR Truck Racing. We wish success to VDR Truck Racing, which has cooperated with us to use our vehicles in the world's toughest race by trusting Ford Trucks.” said.

Apart from the racing trucks, Ford Trucks provides VDR Truck Racing, which consists of two pilots, 4 co-pilots and a technical team of 8 people, with all the equipment that may be needed in the Dakar deserts. The successful team will also be accompanied by a service vehicle provided by Ford Trucks.

The Dakar Rally, which will be held for the 41st time in South America, will take place only in Peru this year, unlike previous years. The racers will open the 11-day rally with a ceremonial start on January 6, 2019. The 10-stage rally, which will start from the city of Lima, will end in Lima on January 17, with the completion of the route around the Peruvian Deserts.