2025 Alex Parow It’s almost perfect. You can’t ask for more from a Catalan pilot. It’s a perfect example of how success can go beyond F1. The Sant Antoni de Vilamajor native achieved his third successive IndyCar title and fourth title in five years.

He achieved this with an overwhelming advantage over others. Win 8 of the 17 races that make up the entire calendar. With five wins from the first six races, the season couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. Three others then arrived and he finished the year with five more podiums. In total he scored 711 points, 196 more than second place in the contest, Pato O’Ward.

He was two wins shy of the single-season wins record held by AJ Foyt from the 1964 season, and one of nine achieved by Mario Andretti, another great legend of the competition. However, yesHe became the third driver in history to win the most IndyCar titles. And he trails only Scott Dixon (5th) and AJ Foyt himself (7th). Additionally, he joins Ted Horn, Sébastien Bourdais and Dario Franchitti on the short list of drivers capable of winning a third straight race.

“It’s been round so far and I hope it stays that way and continues to improve. I think it’s getting better every year. After winning my first IndyCar title in 2021, I thought it was already round and complete, but it’s getting better every year, so I couldn’t be happier,” Palou assessed during a visit to the MD editorial office in early December.

500 miles is a bonus

At the end of a dream year, Palou I was able to win the legendary Indianapolis 500.a thorn that had stuck inside him since he came to the United States. Practically on American soil, winning this event is more important than the championship, and that was the only thing Alex lacked, the Catalan having yet to win on the oval. Fortunately, he managed to take it off his wishlist in May this year, giving it his all and reaching a milestone that no other Spaniard can boast of.

He is undoubtedly a real “sheriff” of Indy and a great reference in this field, which has already spread its fame throughout Spain and Europe thanks to the person of Palou who has achieved everything. Now all I have to do is continue to have fun and dream big.

among them Dakar 2026 there will be 113 Spanish participantsthen the second country with the most competitors. France (186) Each in a career pursuing their own dreams and adventures.

Cars/Ultimate

– 212: Cristina Grieres / Pablo Moreno, (Dacia), 1 title in Challenger, 2nd year in Queen class, 10th in Dakar

– 225: Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz, (Ford), 4 titles, 18th appearance

– 227: Nani Roma / Alex Haro, (Ford), 2 titles (1 motorcycle, 1 car), 28th appearance

– 232: Laia Sanz / Maurizio Gerini (Italy), (EBRO), 16th Dakar (5th by car after 11th by bike). Debuted in queen class T1+.

– 231: Ferran ‘Nandou’ Joubany / Marc Sola (MD), 2nd place in Dakar on motorcycle in 2018

– 233: Isidor Esteve / Chema Villalobos, (Repsol Toyota), 20th place in Dakar (10 cars, 10 motorcycles)

– 244: Jesus Calleja / Edu Blanco, (Santana Racing), 6th place in Dakar with car

– 266: Pedro Peñate / Dani Mesa, (TH-Trax), 9th place in Dakar, competed in motorcycle and three car categories (Ultimate, Challenger, SSV).

– 272: Jordi Torras/Santi Costa, (MD Rally Sports), 3rd place in Dakar, returns at age 65 after 36 years

Other Spanish co-pilots: Armando Monleón (Toby Price, 204 years old), Oriol Mena (Guy Botterill, 218 years old), Rosa Romero (María Gameiro, 248 years old).

Inventory (commercially available cars)

– 502: Oriol Vidal (Rokas Basiuska’s co-pilot, defender)

Bike:

GP Rally:

– 15: Lorenzo Santorino (Sherco), 8th appearance, ranked 6th in 2021, arrives after injury

– 68: Tosha Chalayna (Honda HRC), big favorite, 2nd place in 2025

– 73: Edgar Canet (KTM). One of the great jewels of the present and future. Second participation

Rally 2:

– 78: Arnau Jed (Pedrega Team), debut

– 1995: Juancar Torres (Motoclub Albacete), debut

– 115: Mario Garrido (Pedrega Team), third participation, 2nd place on bike

– 117: Ricardo Lastra (Old Friends Family), debut

– 130 Inigo Zardoya (Joyride Race Service), debut

– 132 Carlos López Veloso (Pedrega Team), debut

– 133 Dominique Cizot (Xraids Experience), second participation

– 138 Juan Carles Guillen (Pedrega Team), debut

Original by MOTUL, “Malle Moto” (unaided):

– 44: Josep Pedro (Rallybikes Pedregà Team), 3rd participation, 1st place with MOTUL original

– 51: Rachid Arral Rahadir (Melilla Ciudad del Deporte), 8th Dakar appearance, 4th place in the original competition

– 99: Javi Vega (Pon Group – Kove), 8th Dakar, MOTUL original and one of the favorites to win

– 119: Fernando Dominguez (Cuenca Regional Council 2026), third participation, first in the original.

– 129: Borja Perez (Melilla Ciudad del Deporte), debut

challenger

317: Oscar Lal/Fernando Acosta (ARG), (Vertical Motorsport), Vehicle: Taurus, 4th participation

– 336: Pau Navarro Ferrer / Jan Rosa (BBR), vehicle: Taurus, 6th participation (2nd place in Challenger). Jean’s speed debut, double classic victory

– 333: Joan Font / Adria Guillem, (Be Racing), 7th participation, co-driver debut

SSV

– 415: Gerard Fares / Toni Wingat, (Pedrega Team), Vehicle: Can-Am, 19th Dakar (8th SSV), 2nd SSV co-driver in quadruple.

– 422: Carlos Santaolalla / Alan Sor y Juanora (Pedrega Team), two-time Dakar Classic winner, makes his SSV debut. Second participation as co-pilot

423: Domingo Roman/Oscar Bravo (TH-Trucks), Vehicle: Polaris, 4th appearance

– 425: Joao Piferar/Xavi Blanco, (Buggy Masters Team), Vehicle: Can-Am, 2nd participation, 9th time as co-driver

– 431: Jose María Cami / Cristian Cami (Buggy Masters Team), Vehicle: Can-Am, Debut

track

– 618: Manuel Bolero / Charlie Gotlib (Belgium) / Adrian López (Dacia Sandriders), fourth appearance as a driver, Adrian’s debut.

– 623: Alberto Herrero / Paulo Oliveira (MOZ) / Mario Rodríguez Sastre (TH-Trax), 14th participation as a driver, 4th participation as Mario

– 626: David Lopez, Dave Ingels (BEL), (SVR) Mechanic, Debut

– 630: Pol Tibau / David Nadal / Daniel Vaz Iglesias (Tibau Team), first appearance as a driver after three co-driver appearances with two debutants.

– 634: Javier Jacoste Oca / Francisco Estelle Fernández / Gerard Rivas, (Buggy Masters Team), second participation

– 637: Jesus Borrero / Emilio Fils / Alberto Fils del Teso (Tibau Team), second participation as driver and co-driver, Alberto’s debut

– 639: Alberto Alonso Romero / Gustavo Ibeaz / Raul Arteaga, (TH-Trax), 6th appearance, Ibeas 2nd, Arteaga debut

– 644: Maria Helena Taruel Tibau / Jacqueline Ricci / Arancia Martí (Tibau Team), debut

– 648: Jordi Esteve / Francesc Pardo / Jordi Puyol (Tibau Team), 11th participation, 2nd place as co-driver and mechanic

– 649: Javier Herrero / Alfonso Herrero / Josep Maria Casas (TH-Trax), debut

dakar classic

classic car

– 702: Juan Morella / Lydia Luba, (Momabikes Raid), Vehicle: Porsche 959 Dakar, Winner

– 707: Jordi Segura/Enric Segura (Be Racing), Vehicle: Porsche Cayenne

– 712: Rafael Lesmes / Tabatha Romón (TH-Trucks), Vehicle: Toyota HDJ 80, Current Classic Trucks Champion

– 745: Raul Pascual / Marco Antonio Cabrera (Caninos Al Dakar), Vehicle: KZJ95, Debut

– 769: Luis Antonio Pires / Mateu Riera Abellan (LJS Racing Team), vehicle: Mitsubishi Pajero, debut

– 770: Raul Ortiz Correa / Raul Ortiz Navas (Pedrega Team), Vehicle: Toyota Rav4, Debut

– 776: Josep Sole / Sergio Cerezo (TH-Trucks), vehicle: Mitsubishi Montero, debut

– 777: Lorenzo Fluxà / Sergi Fernández, (LJS Racing Team), Vehicle: Toyota KZJ 90

Classic track:

– 900: Albert Casabona, Mechanic of Nuno Miguel Bismarck’s Classic Trucks (POR), (TH-Trucks), Vehicle: Mercedes 2636 A

– 913: Jaime ‘Paris’ Martinez, Nekane Abin, Iker Echevarria (R Team), Vehicle: Mercedes 1936

– 920: Jose Manuel Salinero / Javier Benito (Guardia Civil Rally Raid), car: Mercedes 2644, Salinero competed in 11 editions with the car, the last in 2022

mission 1000 new energy truck

– 1004: Miguel Puertas (Arctic Leopard Galicia Team), Vehicle: Arctic Leopard EXE 880 Rally

– 1005: Esther Merino (Arctic Leopard Galicia Team), Vehicle: Arctic Leopard EXE 880 Rally

– 1006: Francisco Jose Paras (Arctic Leopard Galicia Team), vehicle: Arctic Leopard EXE 880 Rally

– 1040: Jordi Giubanteny / Jose Luis Criado / Xavier Rivas, (KH7-ECOVERGY), Vehicle: MAN TGA

Sainz, Roma etc.

Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz They will try to make more history. In 2024, they became the first to win the Dakar in an electric car (Audi), setting a longevity record for champion Carlos at 61 years old, and both achieving it with four different brands, an unprecedented feat. now carlos I want to get my 5th win at 63 and raise my level.touareg‘With the fifth different brand and renewed Ford Nani Roma and his co-pilot, alex haloThey also admire everything. Nani has played a key role in the development of this car from the beginning. Raptor T1+ EVO more competitive Forgerol He will be aiming for his third title (after four-wheeled and two-wheeled) in his 29th Dakar.

As a member of Dacia’s “Dream Team”, Cristina Gutierrez wants to shine as part of the best team, aiming for a final top five and stage victory. meanwhile, Laia Sanz debuts as EBRO’s official pilot Top class car (4×4 T1+) and Isidor Esteve is committed to a better Toyota Hiluxthe same one that made Moraes world champion a few months ago. Jesus Calleja Cross the dunes as a pilot Santana and Nandu Jubanywhich won a podium in the two-wheel drive 4×2 category) will debut in 2025 and will aim for a class victory.

co-pilot Armand MonleonCurrent world champion Toby Price will be accompanying Toyota on its debut as an official driver. Oriol Mena could shine as Botterill’s co-driver, while Oriol Vidal will aim to win in the new stock category.

Jacopini’s co-driver, Dani Oliveras, was the best Spaniard in motoring, finishing seventh last year, and was hoping to improve further, but his driver suffered a serious accident just before the start of the Dakar, meaning Jacopini will not be on the starting line.

Challenger and SSV

Challenger (lightweight prototype) Pau Navarro aims for his first title in 2025 with a podium finish alongside his talented co-driver Jan Rosait comes from an overwhelming classic. In this category, non-flammable materials are joan font repeat with teamwork Oscar Lal create your own set, vertical motorsporthe hopes to join the ranks of the best and defend his current champion crown. Cabigliaso and Pertegarinihis friends.

In SSV (series derived light vehicle), Gerard Fares he is always among the best players pedrega team Despite facing public authorities with more resources and updated vehicles. The current champion of this class is Dakar Classic, Carlos SantaolallaDomingo Roman, Joan Piferer and Jose Maria Cami They will face the desert. among them dakar classicAfter the title of Santa Olala 2023 Champion in 2024 and 2025, Joan Morella and Lydia Lubaa class in which 11 crew members, together with a Spanish pilot or “copis”, aim to retrieve the scepter in a Porsche 959.

three big men on bikes

Tosha Chalayna from Valencia is a great talent in the Spanish motorcycle world, having crashed several times in the last Dakar but aiming for victory and coming in second place. It will also be uploaded edgar canet After achieving an amazing result of 8th place and victory in his debut race at the age of 19, he started working with KTM. rally 2. Your ceiling is unpredictable. lorenzo santorino He will continue to defend Sherco’s honor as he aims for a top-five finish, albeit hampered by a toe injury.

Of the purest kind, motul originalwithout assistance, Javi Vega and Josep Pedro They are vying for victory in the categories in which they also participate. Rashid Arral Rahadir, fernando Dominguez and debutante Borja Perez. in rally 2highlighting the premiere of Young Gem Arnau Jedalso with debutants Torres, Lastra, Zardoya, Lopez, Guillen.

Looking to the future

in Mission 1,000a class created for prototyping using renewable energy, KH-7 Ecovergy by Jordi Juvanteny, Jose Luís Criado, Xavier RibaIt will be the first hydrogen-electric hybrid truck in history. Francisco Gomez Paras, Esther Merino, Miguel Puertas They are uniting to promote electric bikes with the future goal of this type of vehicle competing with combustion bikes within a few years.