After a rollercoaster of preparation, the mood at Tankcsapda has finally turned optimistic: according to the band, their van for the Budapest–Bamako Rally is now fully ready. There were doubts along the way, as the vehicle, sourced from France, turned out to be far from flawless. Still, the team has managed to complete all crucial repairs in time.
The 15-year-old van, with over 350,000 kilometers on the clock, faces a serious challenge: roughly 9,000 kilometers to cover, much of it under extreme conditions. The interior is currently being adapted not just for performance but to ensure the vehicle is livable for the long journey, including proper sleeping arrangements, cooling, communication tools, and internet access.
While many participants leave their cars behind in Africa at the end of the rally, Tankcsapda will bring theirs back home with the help of HGL. The van is expected to appear at various promotional and even charitable events throughout the year and it’s not out of the question that they might take it on the rally again in the future.
Behind the project stands HGL Group Hungary, providing the band with full international support as part of a one-year collaboration. This includes delivering the technical equipment for the rally-related concert in Africa and shipping the vehicle back home. These are far from simple tasks, making a reliable and well-organized support system essential for the band.
Fortunately, HGL is no stranger to Morocco. For example in the past, the company has transported props for film shoots across the desert. And yes, that included an item that looked like a “nuclear weapon”, which required some creative explaining at the border. That’s exactly what makes this challenge exciting: we knew we could handle it, and HGL has proven it can manage even the most unusual, extreme situations!
