"The goal is simple: win back the title"
Crew facts
X.d.S
- After a motorcycling career that included a 7th-place finish in 2019, Xavier de Soultrait decided to switch to four wheels in 2023 in the SSV category, driving a Polaris for the Sébastien Loeb-led SLR team, after considering a role as co-driver alongside the nine-time WRC champion.
- His partnership with long-time friend Martin Bonnet, with whom he was a teammate in the French enduro squad, was the linchpin of their victory in just their second participation, in 2024.
- The SLR team has had factory support from Polaris since 2025, and will field no fewer than five factory machines at the 2026 Dakar in a bid to score a third consecutive victory in the event.
- Preparations for 2026 have included testing in Mexico and Morocco. Xavier also took part, at the last minute, in the 24 Hours of Paris with Polaris. He won the SSV category and finished third overall.
- In his spare time, the Auvergne native is a motorcycle ambassador for his partners at events and is also a member of GIGS (Groupe d’Intervention Grand Sanglier, or Wild Boar Intervention Group).
M.B.
- Xavier's friend and former enduro teammate, Martin Bonnet, won the 2013 French Enduro Championship.
- An engineer, he competed in his first Dakar Rally four years ago on a motorbike, as well as the Morocco Rally.
- Alongside rallying, he stays active in sports such as mountain bike enduro and has won the French Mountain Bike Enduro Masters Cup.
- To ensure serenity in the cockpit, Xavier and Martin sought out a mental coach. The goal: to separate life in the Polaris from life outside it, especially when you are old friends.
Ambition
X.d.S: "We were the fastest. Unfortunately, two mechanical problems stopped us from fulfilling our ambitions. We led early in the rally, were second after stage five, then suffered a major breakdown on the eve of the finish. It's frustrating, but we're still making steady progress. We're still four-wheel rookies, even if we're no longer Dakar rookies! The team has evolved, and we're laying the foundations for a genuine factory project that is solid and sustainable, with Polaris's full support. It's a serious programme, and we're here to stay. The team is growing: we will have five crews this year, with two newcomers (a Portuguese driver and a Finnish multiple world rallycross champion) in addition to Brock and Florent. It provides excellent energy and fundamental group dynamics. We have a new vehicle, the Polaris RZR Pro-R, which complies with the latest regulations and is a very competitive SSV. The goal is simple: to win back the title. We know the Dakar is always unpredictable, but we've done everything we can to be ready. And beyond the result, we want to continue improving the brand and show that Polaris can compete with the best, sometimes even with the Ultimate vehicles. I'm very committed to this category. If I have to stay in SSV for another 2, 3, or 5 years, that's fine with me. The competition is fierce, the industrial stakes are real, and it's exciting to be part of such an ambitious programme.
M.B.:' We had a great Dakar in 2024, winning the race, and last year we led for much of the rally. We led at the halfway point before running into some problems, then we broke down two days before the finish. Despite that, we stayed on track with our goals: to fight at the sharp end and show that Polaris can compete for the win.
This year, we're coming off a good training programme in Morocco and heading to Mexico for two days of testing. The goal is clear: to regain the title. We know what the Dakar Rally is like: you can prepare everything, anticipate everything, but something can always happen. What is certain is that we are hugely motivated.
Xavier and I have known each other since we were 16. We remain very professional in the car. We've even worked with a mental coach to ensure our friendship doesn't affect our performance. We've found the right balance. For my part, I continue to train seriously: lots of cycling, some motorcycling, swimming, enduro, climbing, and kayaking. Last year, I won the French Master Enduro Championship title. All of this helps me stay in shape and work on my reflexes, balance, and core strength. Motorbiking is still excellent preparation for a navigator's role: it develops vision, neck strength, and posture, everything you need to hold your own in the car."
