Nandu Juvany eats the Dakar: “Isn’t he really a driver?”

“Are you really a chef and not a pilot?”. This is what many people are wondering after looking at the results achieved at the 2025 Dakar Bivouac. Nandu Juvani makes his debut in the world’s toughest car racehis This is his second Dakar victory after achieving it on a motorcycle in 2018.. Nandu smiling with his co-pilot Marc Sola And despite the physical and mental demands of the Dakar, which had a very hard start and caused problems for many of the favorites, Michelin-starred chef shines like a star at Dakarian.

to that extent The Catalan finished the fourth stage 43 and a half minutes behind the fourth stage winner.the difficult first part of the marathon stage, Achieved 3rd place in the two-wheel drive classWhat Laia Sanz wanted to win before giving up (4×2), In this category, they are no lower than third in the overall standings, just 48 minutes off the lead.. I can’t believe it’s an amateur debut. But it’s real.

And, as Nandu himself laments in this paper, it might have been better if his favorite machine, which broke down, was not sorted in the starting order before him every day, amidst the dust of other vehicles. You will lose time. “They change the position of the World Cup and the priority car. It doesn’t matter if I have a better position than them. The next day they will start from the front. That will cause my position to be delayed and We start 30 minutes late. By no means, you’re behind other cars, in the dust, and can’t see anything. And when you slow down to get away from him, another driver passes you and you’re back in the dust. ”It is explained in this paper. That makes his accomplishment even more valuable.

“He knows how to make croquettes, but he quickly learned the tricks of driving.”

“He is called the flying chef. He learned very quickly. He handles it very well, as if he were cooking. He makes croquettes very well, I also learned the tricks of driving very quickly.”guarantee marc solahis co-pilot and special “guardian angel”, is more important due to his experience in giving him advice on the dunes and stopping him if Nandu picks up too much pace.

Everyone’s Caravan “Everyone always comes for dinner”

Examples of its excellent performance This is what happened during Stage 2, a grueling 48-hour time trial. After two days without help, he returned the car to his team, Team MD Rally Sports, with the mechanics in perfect condition. “Zero damage, zero!”The navigator exclaimed in front of a smiling Nandu (53 years old) from the caravan who was spending time with us at the camp. That night’s guests at the point closest to the restaurant on wheels in the middle of the bivouac under the watchful eye of Sportish. And those who knew him, as much as possible, They knock on the caravan door without hesitation to see if Nandu has done anything phenomenal in the kitchen.

“Everyone comes here. Sometimes it doesn’t fit. Almost every day we have Quim Tellicabras, the Ford doctor, Nani Roma, two or three physiotherapists, as well as Jordi Villadomus and Edgar Canet. 2 to 5 guests come every day.Therefore, there is no need to go to the bivouac cafeteria. Because there are limited chairs there and you have to stand up. Stay here and let’s talk.”Nandu, who cooks despite stage fatigue and prefers to avoid eating at bivouacs, said: “She’s a little fair-skinned and has a nice nose.”. he had no other choice I spent 48 hours forced to sleep in tents along the route, fed military rations.. He managed to avoid eating a jar of meatballs provided by the organization. “I brought Quinn Cacau’s hazelnut and cocoa cream and tomato bread. ”he admits.

He also took refuge in a camp with his great friend Xavi Padrosresponsible for purchasing food, transporting the caravan across the country, and assisting the pilot and co-pilot in every way possible to shower before meals when they arrive at the bivouac. Orosto cheese and manchego are served for breakfast in that modest residence.the time when Nandu usually makes omelets. There’s never a shortage of chocolate in the fridge. “I take almost half a pill or more every day.”. And after each stage comes the fun.

“As God intended, when we arrive we have cockles, mussels, potatoes and Espinalá sauce to make vermouth. I’m here on vacation, I’m going to enjoy it, although there are many moments on stage that are not fun, So we need to enjoy it when we can.” he told this newspaper in front of his kitchen, where dishes such as casserole noodles, vegetable rice and chicken can already be seen, and he plans to make paella on his day off.

Nandu’s duality

to his co-pilot, marc solahe was surprised to find Nandu the one behind the wheel. “Here he is a nervous, restless donkey, and in the car, people who know him will not believe it, because from the moment he wakes up and goes to bed there is a 2,000 degree per hour earthquake. “It’s very quiet inside the car.”mark guarantees in advance rare “That’s because I’m just focused on driving.” So when I’m driving, I’m driving. ”

“I have the equipment. When I’m doing something, I do it. When I go to Formentera, I pay attention to the restaurants in Formentera, but I don’t remember the restaurants in Andorra or Vic. .And do whatever you have to do there.and when I’m in Can Juvany, I’m just in Can Juvany. I learned this because if I don’t, I’ll go crazy and won’t even be able to rest. ”he declares to this paper.

Sola also highlights how quickly he learned to surf in the dunes of Morocco, and how he showed off his skills this Dakar. Very soft sand section where your favorite (professional) pilot got stuck.

as if it were work

Jubany I didn’t want to go dakar in any case. He took it as if it were a job. He spoke with Jair Fares to find the best possible co-driver and that was Marc Sola. and he went Pep Vila and Nani Roma After seeking advice from the team and car, we chose the MD Rallye Sport package and reliable two-wheel drive Optimus.

“I found out I could buy or rent a car, but it was a very old car. I needed a new one, so I bought it.I mean, how much does it cost financially to come here, and then my car breaks down on the second day? I bought this in case I want to do 2 or 3 Dakars. God willing”He revealed. I started staying.

He arrived late in Dakar to prepare 2,500 menus.

When referring to the hard work and sacrifices he had to make, the best examples are: “Dakar before Dakar” He talks about what he had to do and how hard he worked physically to prepare, but also about the gym and the bike. Most of all, it shows how difficult it is to combine this career with his vast body of work.

He worked non-stop for three days before heading to Dakar, which opened on January 3, arriving later than the other drivers. Some drivers arrived to test the cars on the 29th. Nandu did it on the first day, even later than the press. “I arrived later than everyone else on the first morning because I had to create 2,500 takeaway menus by the end of the year.Customers come first, people come first. There are so many families who trust us for that day. I have this hobby and just can’t get away from it, so I spent many hours working over the last three days. This is my hobby, But first things first. ”he declared.