IVECO participated in the first edition of Desert Master, a non-competitive 100% sand and navigation race in the Tunisian desert with participants from all over the world.
The event started near Ksar Ghilane on the 30th of October and ended in Djerba, where an award ceremony was held to celebrate the contestants who drove with 4×4 vehicles for six days, following a road book made of five difficult stages to reach.
Conceptualised and organised by Edo Mossi, a former Dakar Rally coordinator, the Desert Master is a new rally raid held in the Tunisian desert. Taking inspiration from the most famous desert race in the world, the Dakar Rally, the contest was characterised by eliminating the competitive component, becoming a non-timed sporting event where adventure, driving and exploration on the dunes took over.
Another distinguishing factor of the raid was attention to the environment, with a long list of recommendations that every racing team had to comply with in terms of separate waste collection and protection of the land from fuel and oil during repairs and refuelling.
A first for Team IVECO
It is the first time that IVECO has joined in this kind of off-road raid and it is noteworthy that it is the only brand to actively race with its own vehicle. The company was well represented by the pilot Giuseppe Francesco Simonato, IVECO Motorsport Specialist, and Bergomi Fulvio, IVECO LCV Mechanical Test driver, co-pilot and technician of the team. They raced in an IVECO Daily 4×4, without any external assistance. Nevertheless, IVECO Africa & Middle East official dealers for Tunisian market followed the IVECO team, supporting the initiative and following the run.
Hichem Mechim, Area Manager for Tunisia, acting on behalf of Tunisian dealers and participating in the closing award event held at Hotel Plaza Thalasso & Spa in Djerba, said: “The Desert Master 2023 was a wonderful competition and a truly attractive initiative for the market. It has also been an excellent opportunity for our brand to show how our 4×4 vehicles are suitable for any type of off-road mission. I really hope that it can increase interest in the coming years to involve our customers.”