Martin Macík Jr.‘s beloved IVECO PowerStar, nicknamed “Cenda”, has a brand new residence for the 2025 Dakar Rally. He introduced Thursday he has offered his Dakar-winning truck to Richard de Groot and Firemen Dakarteam, whereas he and MM Know-how plan to area a brand new truck.
Cenda is a PowerStar that MM Know-how constructed and débuted on the 2023 Dakar, the place he received 4 levels however narrowly misplaced the general victory within the Truck category. Macík additionally raced Cenda within the World Rally-Raid Championship, ending third at school factors. He lastly bought 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 check. The truck obtained slight upgrades akin to higher weight distribution and modifications to assist mechanics restore it simpler. He additionally spent the week within the desert check driving a Can-Am Maverick, of which he was named a model ambassador in January, in addition to serving to fellow Czech staff MING Racing check their new Ford F-150 T1+.
Macík has one other IVECO dubbed “Charles”, which was inbuilt 2019 and has raced occasions like Dakar and the Morocco Desert Problem.
“An incredible machine and the top of MM Know-how’s technological improvement to this point, due to which we lastly fulfilled our massive 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 varied World Cup races. In brief, an ideal interval once I and the entire staff realized quite a bit.
“Nevertheless it’s time to maneuver on, so we’re working arduous 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 distinct machine at this race? Both manner, I want Cenda to take pleasure in his time with the Firefighters and for them to push them to raised 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.
