Dakar Classic News: Citroën 2CV Duo to Defend Title in 2025
(Dakar, January 2025) – Barbora Holická and Lucie Engová are set to return to the Dakar Classic in 2025, aiming to defend their class victory from the previous edition. After successfully completing their debut Dakar Classic in 2024, finishing 63rd overall and winning the H1.A category, the two-woman crew is eager to challenge for the overall win.
“Last year, our team had a clear goal: to reach the finish,” said Holická. “We raced with an original car, barely modified, just as the 2CV teams had done at the historic Paris–Dakar Rally in Africa. We achieved our goal and became the first Citroën 2CV to finish the Dakar.”
Their 1979 Citroën 2CV, affectionately nicknamed “Duckar”, was designed by Josef Rataj with a vibrant livery and a rubber duck on the side, as part of a larger project to support duck raising at Safari Park Dvůr Králové. Rataj will create a new wrap for the 2025 outing.
Mechanic’s Crucial Role
Tomáš Neruda, who has been building 2CVs for over three decades, played a crucial role in preparing the car for the rigors of the Dakar terrain.
“We spent a lot of time brainstorming possible modifications for the African terrain and which would take us further. We thought about the car’s weight, the gearbox, and especially the engine’s power.”
Storied History in the Dakar
The Citroën 2CV has a storied history in the Dakar, with vehicles such as Jean-Louis Ramel’s in 1983 and Claude Yves Petelet’s in 1985 competing in the legendary rally. Holická and Engová’s 2CV was the fifteenth instance of the iconic French car taking part in the Dakar Classic.
The 2025 Dakar Classic will run in tandem with the main Dakar Rally from 3–17 January, providing a unique opportunity for enthusiasts to witness the historic machines take on the challenge alongside the modern-day competitors.
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