Dakar 2010 is over for Jan Lammers. In the marathon stage from Iquique to Antofagasta he had to retire the Jumbo Rally GINAF after a crash. In the opening phase of the 600 km special stage Lammers go tinto trouble on a dune.
The truck rolled over, tearing the engine from the chassis. Despite the assistance of the GINAF Rally Service the Jumbo truck could not be repaired. Lammers and Gotlib managed to drive the truck back to the bivouac though. Emiel Megens was taken to Antofagasta by helicopter with a dislocated shoulder.
“This is a huge shame”, said Lammers back in the bivouac. Before the crash the truck already capsized once. “The second time was very unlucky. We tipped over and rolled. Thank god it’s not worse than it is. But you do feel terrible when this happens. Frits van Eerd’s truck totally wrecked, this does not make you feel so great.” From Antofagasta Emiel Megens said he was doing well; “There is little damage. I had a dislocated shoulder and to make sure everything was fine I did go to the medical post in the bivouac.”
Looking back on Friday’s stage; “We tipped over as we climbed a dune. We got some help and were able to continue.”
Shortly after it went wrong again for the Lammers equipe. “We stopped on the top of a dune and did roll over. I did try to balance the truck by raising the suspension to it’s maximum, but it was not enough. First we rolled on the side of Jan Lammers, then we rolled over and the truck stopped on my side.”
Jan Lammers and Charly Gotlib got out of the Jumbo truck unhurt. “They stayed with the truck and did not get into the assistance truck. With some help they got the truck back on it’s feet again and were able to drive back to the bivouac on their own.”
According to Megens the rallytruck is completely written off. “The mechanics of GINAF Rally Service could not believe their eyes. For everyone it was a complete miracle that they had been able to make it back to the bivouac on their own. The cabine and rear are completely wrecked. Also the chassis is quite bent.”