“We’ll be working on the dunes, but with a shovel!”
Crew facts
A.P.
- Used to manoeuvring massive vehicles, for excavation and demolition works, Andrea Pozzetti jumps aboard an Iveco Eurocargo for his first participation in the Dakar Classic.
- His opportunity came through his friend Renato Rickler, the head of R Team. Pozzetti has known him for 25 years. Together, they built the off-road track of 4X4 Fest in Carrara, in Tuscany.
- Also a fan of Mitsubishi, Pozzetti spends week-ends with his friend Enea Martino Corna assembling and reassembling off-road vehicles.
- The duo partnered with Luca Macrini to prepare the Iveco Eurocargo aboard which they will try to overcome the challenges of the Dakar Classic and provide quick assistance to other contenders of R Team.
L.M.
- For Luca Macrini, the Dakar is almost a year-round adventure. When he’s not storming the Saudi desert, the Italian mechanic burns the midnight oil to get R Team’s classic cars and trucks ready for yet another assault.
- Since 2022, Macrini also participates in the Dakar Classic. The 2026 edition already marks his fifth consecutive appearance, with an increasingly important role in race.
- Building on his mechanic skills and his growing experience of the desert, he started taking turns behind the wheel in 2024, when he got to drive the truck for a couple of days.
- In 2026, he will chaperone rookies Andrea Pozzetti and Enea Martino Corna in their first participation in the Dakar Classic, aiming for the finisher’s medal and providing quick assistance to other contenders of R Team.
Ambition
A.P.
“I'm passionate about off-road and I've known Renato [Rickler] for 25 years. Together we went to Tunisia and Morocco last year. On the dunes, he told me: 'Come on, the opportunity is ahead of you. Find the budget and come to the Dakar.'
“I'm passionate about off-road and I've known Renato [Rickler] for 25 years. Together we went to Tunisia and Morocco last year. On the dunes, he told me: 'Come on, the opportunity is ahead of you. Find the budget and come to the Dakar.'
It's the most beautiful race in the world. I've always followed it, especially all the teams doing it with Renato. It's also a challenge with myself. My goal certainly is not to be first in my class. I want to make it to the end, bring home a beautiful medal and hang it on the car. What matters is to get along and have fun. Whatever happens this year, I will dream of coming back. I think it's something that gets into you, it's like a drug afterwards.
Aboard the truck, I will also provide quick assistance. So we'll be working on the dunes, but with a shovel! It will be quite challenging to drive the truck in the desert but I think I can do it. Luca is very skilled and experienced. And we know the truck well, also with Enea, who helped us get lots of spare parts.”
L.M.
"I think the Dakar Rally has always been part of my life, ever since I was 11 and overturned my first car. I was a country boy with a huge passion for the earth, mud, dust and sand. When I look back on my life and the various job opportunities I've had, everything has led me to be up to manage my fifth Dakar Classic both as a preparator and co-driver.
"I think the Dakar Rally has always been part of my life, ever since I was 11 and overturned my first car. I was a country boy with a huge passion for the earth, mud, dust and sand. When I look back on my life and the various job opportunities I've had, everything has led me to be up to manage my fifth Dakar Classic both as a preparator and co-driver.
My role both before and during the race will be that of a wild card, someone who knows the vehicle because we were born together, sportingly speaking, with a fair amount of off-road and navigation experience and always with a constant desire to learn more and more about this game for the privileged few.
In short, I feel part of the RTeam family and my job is: co-creator of toys for wealthy adult children.
The ambition is to bring all our crews to the final medal, perhaps with a few victories in their categories, but above all, for everyone to enjoy their adventure and personal growth, as happens to me every year I participate.”
