Barbora Holická and Lucie Engová are set to bring their 1979 Citroën 2CV back to the Dakar Classic in 2025. Following a successful finish in their debut this year, their aim for 2025 is to compete for the win.
In the 2024 Dakar Classic, the pair finished sixty-third overall and secured victory in the H1.A category. However, it was not without its challenges. During Stage #10, their car got stuck and had to be towed to the finish line. Despite this setback, they accomplished their goal and became the first Citroën 2CV to complete the event, whether in the Classic or the main Dakar Rally.
“Last year, our team had a clear objective: to reach the finish line,” stated Holická. “We raced with an original car, minimally modified, just like the 2CV teams did in the historic Paris-Dakar Rally in Africa. We achieved our goal and became the first Citroën 2CV to finish the Dakar.”
Their 2CV, known as “Duckar”, was designed by Josef Rataj with a vibrant livery and a rubber duck motif on the side. The vehicle was part of a larger initiative to support duck breeding at Safari Park Dvůr Králové. Rataj will be creating a new design for the 2025 car.
The Citroën 2CV has been utilized by various competitors in the early years of the Dakar, including Jean-Louis Ramel in 1983 and Claude Yves Petelet in 1985. Pierre David entered the latter in a modified 2CV, but retired during the Prologue. Holická’s 2CV, which participated on the 75th anniversary of the car, was the fifteenth instance of a 2CV joining the event.
“We gained valuable experience in January,” explained mechanic Tomáš Neruda. “I have been constructing 2CVs for over three decades, but I had never built an off-road version. While these cars are familiar from global rallies where the off-road community races on African sands, I lacked firsthand experience.
“We spent considerable time considering potential modifications for the African terrain and what would enhance our performance. We deliberated on the car’s weight, gearbox, and particularly the engine’s power. We sought expertise from a specialist in Belgium and even developed an engine there that delivers double the power at the same weight, all while maintaining a simple air-cooled twin-cylinder boxer setup.”
Holická and Engová predominantly participate in stage rally events, with the latter serving as both a driver and navigator for her brother Tomáš Enge.
The 2025 Dakar Classic will occur simultaneously with the Dakar Rally from January 3rd to 17th.
