Dakar Rally

Kevin Benavides won his second Dakar in 2023, beating Australian Toby Price by 43 seconds. It was a high point for the Argentinean rider, thus fulfilling his personal dream of winning for two manufacturers: Honda and KTM. A season that seemed so promising and such a huge victory was marred by a fractured femur in February in the run-up to Abu Dhabi, and then in August, by a fractured right wrist. Out of contention for the title, Kevin supported and assisted his younger brother Luciano in the two decisive, the DR 40 and Rally Morocco, which won him the W2RC World Championship. As Kevin reflects, it will be a tall order to repeat this unique circumstance of one brother winning the Dakar and the other the World Championship in the motorbike category in the same year. How was the story of this two-time Dakar winner written? The dream began to take shape when he made a dazzling start to the 2016 Dakar when he won the day 3 stage and then finished an astonishing P4. That outstanding debut was followed by a brilliant season with victories in Argentina and abroad. A fortnight before the start of the 2017 Dakar, Kevin endured the heartbreak of being sidelined from the event when he fractured his hand during testing. Kevin came back to show his class at the 2018 Dakar. He fought neck and neck with the leaders until he got lost on stage 10, partially giving up his chances of victory. P2 was both a prize and a challenge. In Peru, Kevin received a harsh three-hour penalty three stages from the end. That circumstance and an engine change affected his performance, leaving him in P12. He was reclassified P5 two months later. Kevin showed exceptional speed on the 2020 Dakar, even managing a stage victory, but on day six, his Honda engine died 44 km from the end of the Dakar. He was stranded in the dunes and lost four hours to get out. The Honda victory was of tremendous motivation for Kevin in 2021. It wasn't until the final kilometre that he knew he had finally triumphed. “That was the most spectacular moment of my life”, he recalls. In April, Kevin transferred from Honda to KTM. On the 2022 Dakar, where he was defending his title, Kevin started the rally on the back foot, dropping almost an hour on the opening stage. On day 10, while in 5th place, just a few minutes behind the leader, an engine failure forced him to retire.

After a run of bad luck in the 2020 and 2021 editions, Alexandre Giroud has finally added the Dakar to his impressive list of achievements, 25 years after his father, Daniel, was the first rider to finish the Dakar on a quad. But Giroud didn't stop there. Building on this performance, he also won the Morocco and Andalusia Rallies to claim the quad rally-raid world champion title, despite his absence from the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the efforts and consistency of his Slovakian rival Juraj Varga. Giroud went into the 2023 edition full of confidence to become only the second rider to win the most prestigious quad rally in two successive years. He injured his shoulder during the rally and had to undergo surgery and rest for several months. As a result, he missed most of the W2RC rounds. He returned for the Morocco Rally and won. The Frenchman has lost none of his superbness; quite the contrary, he is ready and sharp. Even if his rivals are determined to beat him, the Frenchman will aim for a Dakar three-peat, as his compatriot Stéphane Peterhansel did on two wheels.

2024 could be Nasser Al Attiyah's year. For two reasons. Firstly, and in chronological order, because he will be setting out to conquer a sixth Dakar title, possibly his third consecutive. A treble that only Ari Vatanen and Pierre Lartigue have achieved before him in a car. His other challenge will come at the end of July/beginning of August, at the National Shooting Centre in Chateauroux during the Paris Olympic Games. The Qatari will be competing in his 7th Olympiad, hoping to win a second medal in skeet after the bronze he won in London 2012. But let's return to his first mission. The 53-year-old could have opted for the easy way out by sticking with the ultra-competitive Toyota Hilux T1+ that he drove to the title in 2019, 2022 and 2023. No, Al Attiyah is taking on a new challenge. By joining the Prodrive team, he dreams of winning with a fourth different vehicle: a Volkswagen Race Touareg in 2011, a Mini in 2015, a Toyota and therefore a Hunter for this new edition. It's a challenge partly calculated in the knowledge that his car has already flirted with victory, driven by Sebastien Loeb, his runner-up in 2022 and 2023. Naturally, he is taking on board his trusty co-driver Mathieu Baumel, a four-time winner who is hoping to get closer to the record holder for victories in the right-hand seat, Jean-Paul Cottret (7 wins with Stéphane Peterhansel). 2024 could, therefore, be an exceptional year for the Franco-Qatari duo, following on from a brilliant 2023 season: another W2RC title and successes in the Dakar, Mexico and Argentina.

Off-road runs in Austin’s blood. ‘AJ’ as he’s known on the bivouac, spent his childhood learning the ins and outs of racing, although it was only in 2018 that he got behind the wheel himself, after spending a year as his dad’s co-driver. In his first full season, Austin took the SCORE International championship by storm, claiming victories at the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 in the Trophy Truck Spec class. Austin took his first steps in rally-raid towards the end of 2018 by entering the Rallye du Maroc. Second on the 2021 Dakar (SSV class), he followed that up by competing in the World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, taking three wins, including the final in Abu Dhabi to lift his first world title -and then going on to win his first Dakar at the beginning of 2022. Throughout the American has relied on his Brazilian co-driver's even more impressive record of achievements. Gustavo Gugelmin has seven Dakars under his belt. In 2018, with his compatriot Reinaldo Varela, he won the SSV category and followed that by winning the 2019 world cup in their category. Ten years ago, the Brazilian won the FIA World Cup in the T2 category. After their 2022 Dakar win and the marathon status points it gave them, the Jones / Gugelmin pairing were logical favourites to take the inaugural 2022 W2RC championship. Except a run of bad luck stopped them from making the break from rivals Mareck Goczal and Rokas Baciuska and going into the final round in Andalusia the three were separated by just 2 points! In the end Austin finished the race in fourth place to take third in the championship. The 2023 Dakar saw Austin and Gustavo move up to the fiercely competitive T3 class for lightweight prototypes but clearly they were not intimidated by the experience, winning their class first time out. They went on to compete in all the remaining rounds of the W2RC in that category, going into the last round, the Rallye du Maroc, neck and neck with Seth Quintero and Mitch Gutherie. Unfortunately Morocco didn’t go their way and a 20th place saw them finish the W2RC on the last step of the podium once again.

Off-road runs in Austin’s blood. ‘AJ’ as he’s known on the bivouac, spent his childhood learning the ins and outs of racing, although it was only in 2018 that he got behind the wheel himself, after spending a year as his dad’s co-driver. In his first full season, Austin took the SCORE International championship by storm, claiming victories at the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 in the Trophy Truck Spec class. Austin took his first steps in rally-raid towards the end of 2018 by entering the Rallye du Maroc. Second on the 2021 Dakar (SSV class), he followed that up by competing in the World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, taking three wins, including the final in Abu Dhabi to lift his first world title -and then going on to win his first Dakar at the beginning of 2022. Throughout the American has relied on his Brazilian co-driver's even more impressive record of achievements. Gustavo Gugelmin has seven Dakars under his belt. In 2018, with his compatriot Reinaldo Varela, he won the SSV category and followed that by winning the 2019 world cup in their category. Ten years ago, the Brazilian won the FIA World Cup in the T2 category. After their 2022 Dakar win and the marathon status points it gave them, the Jones / Gugelmin pairing were logical favourites to take the inaugural 2022 W2RC championship. Except a run of bad luck stopped them from making the break from rivals Mareck Goczal and Rokas Baciuska and going into the final round in Andalusia the three were separated by just 2 points! In the end Austin finished the race in fourth place to take third in the championship. The 2023 Dakar saw Austin and Gustavo move up to the fiercely competitive T3 class for lightweight prototypes but clearly they were not intimidated by the experience, winning their class first time out. They went on to compete in all the remaining rounds of the W2RC in that category, going into the last round, the Rallye du Maroc, neck and neck with Seth Quintero and Mitch Gutherie. Unfortunately Morocco didn’t go their way and a 20th place saw them finish the W2RC on the last step of the podium once again.

Off-road runs in Austin’s blood. ‘AJ’ as he’s known on the bivouac, spent his childhood learning the ins and outs of racing, although it was only in 2018 that he got behind the wheel himself, after spending a year as his dad’s co-driver. In his first full season, Austin took the SCORE International championship by storm, claiming victories at the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 in the Trophy Truck Spec class. Austin took his first steps in rally-raid towards the end of 2018 by entering the Rallye du Maroc. Second on the 2021 Dakar (SSV class), he followed that up by competing in the World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, taking three wins, including the final in Abu Dhabi to lift his first world title -and then going on to win his first Dakar at the beginning of 2022. Throughout the American has relied on his Brazilian co-driver's even more impressive record of achievements. Gustavo Gugelmin has seven Dakars under his belt. In 2018, with his compatriot Reinaldo Varela, he won the SSV category and followed that by winning the 2019 world cup in their category. Ten years ago, the Brazilian won the FIA World Cup in the T2 category. After their 2022 Dakar win and the marathon status points it gave them, the Jones / Gugelmin pairing were logical favourites to take the inaugural 2022 W2RC championship. Except a run of bad luck stopped them from making the break from rivals Mareck Goczal and Rokas Baciuska and going into the final round in Andalusia the three were separated by just 2 points! In the end Austin finished the race in fourth place to take third in the championship. The 2023 Dakar saw Austin and Gustavo move up to the fiercely competitive T3 class for lightweight prototypes but clearly they were not intimidated by the experience, winning their class first time out. They went on to compete in all the remaining rounds of the W2RC in that category, going into the last round, the Rallye du Maroc, neck and neck with Seth Quintero and Mitch Gutherie. Unfortunately Morocco didn’t go their way and a 20th place saw them finish the W2RC on the last step of the podium once again.

At only 34 years of age, Martin Macik is already lining up for his 12th Dakar in the trucks. The charismatic Czech entrepreneur has followed in the footsteps of his father Martin Senior, who first competed in the world's toughest rally in 2003. Martin Junior began in 2013 as a navigator for Vlastimil Vildman, before switching to the driver's seat from 2015 onwards. Over time he has become one of the leading truck contenders, although he was never realistically in a position to threaten the all-conquering Kamaz-Master team in previous editions, coming as high as fourth in 2021. However, the absence of the Russians in 2023 threw the trucks category wide open and led to a fascinating Czech-Dutch battle between Macik, Ales Loprais, Jaroslav Valtr, the Van den Brinks and eventual winner Janus van Kasteren. Martin had to be content with second place overall, despite four stage wins, but he didn’t begrudge his good friend Van Kasteren the title. He lost time after his brakes overheated on Stage 2, causing two tyres to explode, and then got stuck in the mud on Stage 9. Martin returns in 2024 as one of the main favourites, even if he insists that the challenge of winning the Dakar is as hefty as his 10-tonne Iveco Powerstar. Nicknamed 'Cenda', the truck was built in the MM Technology workshops and returns for its second Dakar outing this year. MM Technology is the latest iteration of the team Martin set up with his father, and they will once again be providing vehicles and service to Italtrans Racing and the Firemen Dakar team in this 2024 edition. Martin also offers media and marketing services through his MM Production and MM Photography projects, which ensures he always has plenty to keep him busy! For the fifth straight year, he is joined by long-term navigator Frantisek 'Frank' Tomasek and race mechanic David Svanda, who are both keen to help him hunt down that elusive Bedouin trophy. The rally-obsessed Czech Republic has been waiting for a Dakar win since 2001, and Martin looks one of the best-placed to finally end the drought.

At only 34 years of age, Martin Macik is already lining up for his 12th Dakar in the trucks. The charismatic Czech entrepreneur has followed in the footsteps of his father Martin Senior, who first competed in the world's toughest rally in 2003. Martin Junior began in 2013 as a navigator for Vlastimil Vildman, before switching to the driver's seat from 2015 onwards. Over time he has become one of the leading truck contenders, although he was never realistically in a position to threaten the all-conquering Kamaz-Master team in previous editions, coming as high as fourth in 2021. However, the absence of the Russians in 2023 threw the trucks category wide open and led to a fascinating Czech-Dutch battle between Macik, Ales Loprais, Jaroslav Valtr, the Van den Brinks and eventual winner Janus van Kasteren. Martin had to be content with second place overall, despite four stage wins, but he didn’t begrudge his good friend Van Kasteren the title. He lost time after his brakes overheated on Stage 2, causing two tyres to explode, and then got stuck in the mud on Stage 9. Martin returns in 2024 as one of the main favourites, even if he insists that the challenge of winning the Dakar is as hefty as his 10-tonne Iveco Powerstar. Nicknamed 'Cenda', the truck was built in the MM Technology workshops and returns for its second Dakar outing this year. MM Technology is the latest iteration of the team Martin set up with his father, and they will once again be providing vehicles and service to Italtrans Racing and the Firemen Dakar team in this 2024 edition. Martin also offers media and marketing services through his MM Production and MM Photography projects, which ensures he always has plenty to keep him busy! For the fifth straight year, he is joined by long-term navigator Frantisek 'Frank' Tomasek and race mechanic David Svanda, who are both keen to help him hunt down that elusive Bedouin trophy. The rally-obsessed Czech Republic has been waiting for a Dakar win since 2001, and Martin looks one of the best-placed to finally end the drought.

At only 34 years of age, Martin Macik is already lining up for his 12th Dakar in the trucks. The charismatic Czech entrepreneur has followed in the footsteps of his father Martin Senior, who first competed in the world's toughest rally in 2003. Martin Junior began in 2013 as a navigator for Vlastimil Vildman, before switching to the driver's seat from 2015 onwards. Over time he has become one of the leading truck contenders, although he was never realistically in a position to threaten the all-conquering Kamaz-Master team in previous editions, coming as high as fourth in 2021. However, the absence of the Russians in 2023 threw the trucks category wide open and led to a fascinating Czech-Dutch battle between Macik, Ales Loprais, Jaroslav Valtr, the Van den Brinks and eventual winner Janus van Kasteren. Martin had to be content with second place overall, despite four stage wins, but he didn’t begrudge his good friend Van Kasteren the title. He lost time after his brakes overheated on Stage 2, causing two tyres to explode, and then got stuck in the mud on Stage 9. Martin returns in 2024 as one of the main favourites, even if he insists that the challenge of winning the Dakar is as hefty as his 10-tonne Iveco Powerstar. Nicknamed 'Cenda', the truck was built in the MM Technology workshops and returns for its second Dakar outing this year. MM Technology is the latest iteration of the team Martin set up with his father, and they will once again be providing vehicles and service to Italtrans Racing and the Firemen Dakar team in this 2024 edition. Martin also offers media and marketing services through his MM Production and MM Photography projects, which ensures he always has plenty to keep him busy! For the fifth straight year, he is joined by long-term navigator Frantisek 'Frank' Tomasek and race mechanic David Svanda, who are both keen to help him hunt down that elusive Bedouin trophy. The rally-obsessed Czech Republic has been waiting for a Dakar win since 2001, and Martin looks one of the best-placed to finally end the drought.