Rally Raid: Dakar legend Matthias Walkner with a new team and co-driver

For Matthias Walkner, the Morocco Rally marks his third appearance in a World Championship race on four wheels. Over the Whitsun bank holiday, the 40-year-old triumphed in the Challenger category at the Desafio Ruta in Argentina, driving the BBR team’s Taurus T3 Max buggy alongside Pablo Moreno. Technical problems had hampered his performance at the previous European World Championship round in Portugal.

Walkner will be competing in Morocco in the T4-SSV class for the Rüsselsheim-based South Racing team in a Can-Am Maverick. At his side, for the first time, will be the Spaniard Oriol Mena as his new co-driver.

Matthias Walkner erstmals für South Racing und mit Oriol Mena am Start

Foto: MCH-Photo

Mena and Walkner have known each other for some time from their motorcycling days. “When I won the Dakar in 2018, Oriol finished seventh in the motorbike category and was the best rookie. Like me, he comes from a motorbike background and switched to the role of co-driver in 2022. Oriol has already gained experience in several classes and even went on to win the Dakar Rally in the T4 class in 2023. He has everything it takes to succeed. Our first tests together have gone very well.”

Walkner will in Marokko an Erfolg von Argentinien anschließen

Foto: Red Bull

At the Rally Morocco, Walkner faces a total distance of 2,524 kilometres, of which 1,575 kilometres will be covered across the five special stages. Following the shakedown in Agadir, the first special stage on Tuesday (29 September) will run from the Atlantic port city to Zagora. From this town on the edge of the Atlas Mountains, the competition will continue with four loops across sandy and gravelly terrain until 3 October.