“Fun is the main goal”
Crew facts
- Zhang Min is preparing for his 9th participation in Dakar Rally. The 47-year-old from China was forced to abandon with mechanical issues on his first two appearances in 2017 and 2018, but since then he has always reached the finish line, only missing out in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
- Zhang discovered motorsport as a teenager, when he skipped school one day and came across a motocross race, promptly joining in and sparking a lifelong passion. He grew up competing with his teammates Zhao Hongyi, who are now part of his Dakar 'family' on the Da Hai Dao Zero Mileage Lubricant team.
- The man from the Yunnan Province -who runs a hotel back home- took his best Dakar result in 2019, finishing 46th. He has also been a runner-up at China's biggest offroad event, the Taklimakan Rally, on multiple occasions.
Ambition
Z.M.: “Really looking forward to start my 9th Dakar Rally. Dakar became my lifestyle and I feel at home between dunes and hard days on the motorbike. I really enjoy my time next to my team mates and technical team, they become my racing family since 8 years ago. I got good Dakar preparation, racing some local events and push for my fitness, so, I’m ready for Dakar 2026”
