“Maybe it’ll be just as challenging”
Crew facts
DB
- What a journey it’s been for David Bensadoun. When first seeing the Dakar competitors go by his relatives’ house in France, during his Christmas Holidays, he knew he would one day be part of the adventure.
- Thirty years later, in a car alongside compatriot Patrick Beaulé, he was part of the first ever Canadian crew to finish the event.
- After three other appearances, including a great 32nd position in 2015, the successful businessman in the shoe industry, returned in 2019 with even bigger ambitions in a Century CR6. Sadly, his adventure with former biker Patrick Beaulé ended before reaching the rest day.
- Seven years later, the 55-year-old has decided to come back and discover a new territory but this time, he’ll be competing in the Classic category. Extremely busy with his company, Aldo Shoes, David wanted a far different stress level.
- For this grande premiere, the Canadian will be driving a Toyota Landcruiser prepared by Boucou Competition that he’ll be sharing with Mexican Baja specialist Nicolas Ambriz.
- Also in the team and driving another car will be his brother Douglas who is a real rookie on the Dakar. And this 2026 Dakar will only be a first chapter in his second Dakar life. He intends to return next year in a 1979 Chevy Blazer.
Ambition
D.B.: “I’m very excited to come back to Dakar. I’ve been missing it but honestly, I can’t even imagine doing the regular Dakar with my work schedule and the stress level that it involves. The Dakar Classic seems like it’ll be more fun but maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’ll be just as challenging. I love the spirit that I see when I watch the highlights. I love the concept of it. And I think it’ll be the perfect thing for me to challenge myself at this point. So, we’re excited to come with Boucou Competition. But the really cool thing is that we’ve been building a 1979 Chevy Blazer to compete in January 2027. So, in fact this Dakar is to train and learn regularity rally and then we want to come back with the Blazer and be the first ones to compete in the Dakar with a V8 powered American 4 by 4. It’ll be a really fun vehicle that will become a fan favourite.
The other exciting thing is that I’ll be in a team with my brother Douglas who is very far from motorsports but he loves vintage vehicles and I managed to convince him to come. We have matching Toyotas and it’ll be his first time in a Dakar bivouac. He doesn’t even know enough to be nervous. He thinks it’s going to be easy. He doesn’t realize what’s about to happen.”
