Kuipers-Jongbloed Hybrid Dakar Team was unable to run this year’s Dakar Rally because their Renault C460 trucks couldn’t meet the FIA’s updated regulations for hybrids. After some negotiating and compromising, cousins Kay and Gert Huzink have confirmed their returns for the 2026 race.

Their trucks will still have hybrids, but much smaller than usual to better fit the rulebook. Under the new rulebook, hybrid trucks must follow the same set of regs as their car counterparts, which the team found impractical since the two vehicles are too different from one another.

Talks between them, FIA, and ASO bore some fruit, but the amendments to the homologation process are taking too long for the team to race their trucks as is. In the meantime, they shrank the hybrid component on their Renaults for next week’s Rallye du Maroc and will likely stick with them for Dakar.

“Our hybrid story is truly a good one, and we will continue to develop it,” said Gert Huzink. “We see this as a necessary transition year, a step back in order to take two steps forward.

“Like our sponsors, we are proactive and not easily discouraged. The path to innovation inevitably comes with fits and starts. As entrepreneurs, you don’t shy away from that, and it makes us all even more motivated to make the hybrid story a success.”

After missing Dakar, the team regrouped for the Morocco Desert Challenge in April. The Huzinks won every stage and Kay topped the Truck overall, while Gert was hampered by a late fire.

With their Renaults now in line with the FIA, the cousins are back in the FIA Truck class for the Rallye du Maroc instead of being in Open like last year. Kay completed the 2024 RdM while Gert retired.

Featured image credit: Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI / ASO