Martin Macík Jr.‘s beloved IVECO PowerStar, nicknamed “Cenda”, has a brand new residence for the 2025 Dakar Rally. He introduced Thursday he has bought his Dakar-winning truck to Richard de Groot and Firemen Dakarteam, whereas he and MM Know-how plan to discipline a brand new truck.
Cenda is a PowerStar that MM Know-how constructed and débuted on the 2023 Dakar, the place he gained 4 levels however narrowly misplaced the general victory within the Truck class. Macík additionally raced Cenda within the World Rally-Raid Championship, ending third at school factors. He lastly obtained over the hump on the 2024 version in January with 4 extra stage wins as he beat Aleš Loprais for his maiden Bedouin.
In early June, Macík introduced Cenda to Tunisia for a four-day desert take a look at. The truck acquired slight upgrades resembling higher weight distribution and modifications to assist mechanics restore it simpler. He additionally spent the week within the desert take a look at driving a Can-Am Maverick, of which he was named a model ambassador in January, in addition to serving to fellow Czech workforce MING Racing take a look at their new Ford F-150 T1+.
Macík has one other IVECO dubbed “Charles”, which was in-built 2019 and has raced occasions like Dakar and the Morocco Desert Problem.
“An amazing machine and the head of MM Know-how’s technological improvement thus far, due to which we lastly fulfilled our large dream – to win the Dakar Rally,” wrote Macík. “It’s price mentioning the second place within the Dakar 2023, or a number of podium finishes in numerous World Cup races. In brief, an awesome interval after I and the entire workforce realized so much.
“However it’s time to maneuver on, so we’re working onerous on the brand new truck we’ll be unveiling this yr. What do you suppose, will we make it to Baja Aragon or will we shock you in a unique machine at this race? Both means, I want Cenda to get pleasure from his time with the Firefighters and for them to push them to higher outcomes, similar to us.”
De Groot and Firemen Dakarteam, a Dutch outfit of volunteer firefighters as their title suggests, additionally race a PowerStar. He positioned ninth in 2024 with 5 top-ten stage finishes and a greatest run of sixth in Stage #6.
The 2025 Dakar Rally runs on 3–17 January.
