After the exciting debut last year, André Trilling and his wife Jolanda de Jong will once again be at the starting line of the rally organized by Lluis Rosa. Here’s what they shared with us.
Back from Sardinia, where they went on a tour with their SSV, the Dutch duo André Trilling and Jolanda de Jong are already thinking about their next adventure in the Moroccan desert: the FenekRally 2025. The crew of the Dutch Driving Team will once again challenge the Moroccan tracks aboard the Yamaha YXZ they purchased a few years ago, equipped for off-road gatherings and rally-raids.
How did you decide to sign up for last year’s edition of the FenekRally? “By chance! Last January, in Spain, basking in the winter sun and sipping a good glass of wine, we were chatting with our ‘buggy friends’ – David Fletcher and Laura Harris – about the FenekRally in Morocco. They had already participated twice with their SSV and had just signed up for the next edition. Their stories immediately piqued both my and my wife’s interest. A quick look at the rally’s website, a few inevitable questions (Can we do it? Won’t it be too much for us?), and here we are among the participants!” explains André.
In October 2024, at the starting line of the “rally” category, with the number #404, there is André and Jolanda’s Yamaha YXZ. How did you prepare the vehicle and crew?
“As for the SSV, a rally dashboard was installed on the right side to accommodate the Stella EVO III tripmaster along with the power control for a dedicated air compressor for the tires. We then purchased an electronic roadbook and mounted tires suitable for the off-road terrain of Morocco. Before leaving, I contacted a Dakar expert in the Netherlands, Tim Coronel, to get a brief explanation of the technological equipment and how to use it –continues André- Once we arrived at the competition camp in Morocco, we immediately felt at ease: what a wonderful atmosphere at the bivouac! Even though everyone was busy preparing and finishing a thousand things, they always had time to provide us with valuable tips and advice.”
Ready for the start, how was the prologue? “Of course, being our first experience, we didn’t expect much: in the end, despite a sudden and quite strong sandstorm, we finished eighth in our group. The first stage also started well, but not having much familiarity with the roadbook, we lost the right track and returned to the bivouac. In the following days, we tried to gain experience, sometimes successfully navigating the dunes on the route, and sometimes choosing to go around them because they were too high for beginners like us -André and Jolanda recount- In one of the last stages, we got lost, and at that point, we decided to contact the organization by pressing the S.O.S. button on the Stella Evo III: the staff provided us with all the necessary information to safely reach a village from where we then set off to return to the base camp.”
An exciting initiation into the world of rally-raids for André and Jolanda, who will be back at the start of the FenekRally this year. “We really enjoyed last year’s experience, so we couldn’t help but sign up again to improve our driving and navigation skills and, of course, have even more fun! -explains André- Once the registration was formalized, I asked the organization if there was any training course we could attend to gain more practical and theoretical knowledge for this type of event. Sure enough, the staff immediately organized a two-day course specifically for those who want to participate safely and responsibly in these rally (you can register online). The course takes place just before the start of the 2025 edition, making logistics very convenient. We can’t wait to be part of this new adventure.”
Why would you recommend participating in the FenekRally? “For the beautiful landscapes of Morocco and its friendly people, for the friendly atmosphere during the rally, and for spending time together in the camp with other teams. It’s a great mix for rookie amateurs like us. But also to see the professional teams up close. My wife and I had pleasant conversations with the Spanish female team competing with the truck and chatted with motorcyclists and other participants” concludes André.
For information on registrations and procedures, visit www.fenekrally.com
