“In the race, with an eye on the customers”
CREW FACTS
S.C.
- Two decades after his Dakar debuts, Stefano Calzi faces yet another challenging January as he returns to Saudi Arabia both as a driver and as a team manager, with five crews lining up in the Dakar Classic and in the main event.
- After turning heads with his iconic Mitsubishi MPR 51, Calzi gets back to truck action, aboard the MAN he used to race some twenty years ago.
- A busy Calzi can rely on two friends to help him and share good times in the truck: Umberto Fiori, who he’s shared countless adventures with, and Gianluca Ianni, hooked for a third Dakar Classic participation.
U.F.
- Umberto Fiori is among the most seasoned Dakarians in Saudi Arabia, with previous experiences in Africa and South America, but he will forever look at the world’s most iconic rally-raid as “a dream”.
- Fiori haș fully embraced the Dakar Classic, showcasing jewels such as a Peugeot 504 Pick-Up (in 2021, with Roberto Camporese) and a Mitsubishi Pajero MR51 (2023, with Stefano Calzi).
- Jumping aboard Stefano Calzi’s MAN 18.285, Fiori revives their first Dakar adventures, twenty years ago.
G.I.
- A pharmacist and entrepreneur, Gianluca Ianni lived his first Dakar experience in 2012, supporting the Totani brothers. The Dakar Classic opened the way to his return, in 2022… And he’s not planning to leave.
- After a first participation in a car, the 2024 edition got him to cross the desert in Motortecnica’s MAN 18.285, with Corrado Pattono. He’s now proud to share the cockpit with “two Dakar legends”.
2025 AMBITIONS
S.C.: “This year, we have five crews in the race with Motortecnica, including two new clients with less experience of the Dakar so I’m back in the truck, to be a little bit closer to help them if needed. We even have a car in the modern race, a Century [driven by Agostino Rizzardi]. I serve them the cars, the truck and I do the full service. I’m in the race but with an eye on my customers.
I did four or five Dakars with that truck, back in the 2000s, until 2012. But then, it was getting too slow for the modern race. But the Classic gave us the opportunity to use it again. Let’s go!
We’ve been doing so many Dakars together with Umberto. Gianluca is my friend and my customer. He often comes to my workshop, we’ve known each other for many years. I think it’s going to be a nice Dakar between friends. We don’t go to win. As I always say, we come to participate. Then we’ll see what comes our way.”
U.F.: “We naturally decided to do the Dakar again this year but at first, we didn’t know which vehicle we would use. For the last few years, we had been racing with the MPR 51, the Mitsubishi, but Stefano said it would be better to do something else, because the car wears out and you can’t find spare parts.
Now we use this truck, which is already more than 20 years old. I’ve already done several Dakars in the truck. I really liked the MPR 51, because it’s a unique machine to showcase. With the truck, I like this type of vehicle so it will be a good experience again for sure.”
G.I.: “I love this world full of emotions, adventures, wonderful landscapes, technology, motors and friends. So why not come back? I’m lucky to be supported by relatives. I’m surrounded by friends in the Motortecnica Team, and my family is quite patient to help me enjoy this wonderful adventure called the Dakar to the fullest.
I have the advantage of once again sharing the cockpit with two Dakar legends. From them I can only learn and be of support in navigation.
For me, the advantage of being three people in a truck is that you can always count on two drivers and... two co-drivers.”
