“What would happen if you founded your own Dakar team?”: The story of a new Catalan team aiming to win the world’s toughest race.

Oscar Lal (February 25, 1972) is a Barcelona businessman in the pharmaceutical industry. Thirty years ago, he decided to embark on an adventure with his brother and despite having few resources, they founded a successful company. Dara Pharmawhich was extremely important during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example. COVIDcreate a vaccine. I’ve always wanted to go dakara passion for motors that began at the age of 10 thanks to his grandfather, an engineer for the legendary Ossa motorcycle brand. His Dakarian dreams were postponed due to work and dedication, but he 50 it was done gift to yourself.

He made his debut at SSV. Since then, he has always improved the project every year. Jumping up the category in his second appearance, challenger (Light Prototype) And for the third Dakar, we changed the vehicle and won the best vehicle in its class. Taurus. And in the fourth Dakar, he passed the match.

The financial survival of his company allowed him to dream of bigger things. I was wondering which team to go to. And then the light bulb went on. “What if I put together my own costume?” “I run a company with 550 employees, but starting a team of 12 people is not a problem for me. I created a business plan. Business PlanI also met important people like team principal Alex Lewis, mechanics and physios. I’m 54 years old, but I’m very motivated and it wasn’t difficult for me to do it. It was about making the right decisions and it didn’t cost me. Now we want to stay in Dakar for many years. ”he told MD at the bivouac in Yanbu before the start of the 2026 Dakar.

He started building it in August 2025. Five months later, he had already arrived in Dakar. In record time. But much earlier, in October, he made his racing debut at the final round of the World Championship, the Morocco Rally.

Unity in racing fostered unique friendships

But there’s also some Dakarian magic in this story. There’s something in the story that connects him and his new co-pilot, Argentinian Fernando Acosta. At the 2024 Dakar, the Catalan driver stopped on the penultimate stage to give him and his driver the wheel, a key move that helped Acosta finish sixth, his best result in the competition. This led to a great friendship, from which Fernando wanted to become Lar’s co-pilot.. The cohesiveness of the race allowed Argentines and Barcelonans to join in the same adventure.

But that’s not all. Thanks to their cohesiveness, this new team made its Dakar debut alongside the current category champions. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. they have two cars. One aircraft is piloted by Ral. The other is the Argentinian, the Dakar 2025 winning couple in the Challenger. Nicolas Cabigliasso and Valentina Pertegarini.

Cabigliasso was not happy with the previous arrangement, as he had given priority to other drivers for sponsorship reasons. They wanted change and chose the value of friendship. They believed in Lal’s project, even though it was new, and trusted his management skills. But most of all they remembered how much Ral helped him.

“Nico was a throwback to the team I was in in 2025. He became a leader but was very lonely. I saw him eating by himself on the last stage.” And I said to him: “On the penultimate stage, I have four spare parts. I started in front of him, so wait, you go, and I’ll make you a backpacker.” And from there a friendship was born. ” he remembered. Although he supported him to become champion, he emphasized that there was no merit in that success and praised the quality and speed of the Argentine duo.

The stakes were so high for the winning couple that they did not hesitate to play for the world title. 2025 FIA W2RC Rally Raid This happened at the final round of the tournament, the Morocco Rally, in October last year. They were playing for the title with a new team that had just debuted. And they did it.

“They made their debut with us at the Rally du Maroc, where they were declared Challenger World Champions. Everything went well and it was a complete success.” “I want to be with this team in the Dakar for many years,” he said with a big smile, which disappeared on the third stage.

stones on the road

In the first stage, Lal was 15 minutes behind the leaders. However, everything started to go wrong from stage 2, when a mechanical problem occurred on the hard rocky course on the third day. But everything will get worse. Just before the start of Stage 4, the FIA ​​issued a civilian exclusion document when Lal was stopped due to problems in the special. “A guy came over to offer us water. He got into the car and touched the car, so they disqualified us.”Lal was clear and adamant that he intends to appeal the FIA’s decision. In fact, the Catalan started the first part of the marathon stage.

No matter how this story ends, the team is focused on helping the current champions defend their crowns. Cabigliasso He won the stage and is close to his goal with six minutes to the lead. A Catalan team that didn’t exist five months ago is chasing the title. I started staying. But Lal has another dream that may one day come true. “Driving a top-class T1+…” The smile on his face was huge when he thought about it.