Handing over the torch

Dakar 2026 | Stage 10 | BIVOUAC REFUGE > BISHA
January 14 ^th 2026 - 21:05 [GMT + 3]

The Germans Maximilian and Laurence Loder are competing in their second Dakar Classic aboard an unusual vehicle, a Puch their father drove in 1985. This time round, Josef has also made the trip to spend the second week of the race in their company.

By definition, the cars lining up for the Dakar Classic arrive with a storied past. For the brothers Laurence and Maximilian Loder, the history of their machine stretches back to 1985 and carries a deeply personal weight. Only Maximilian had been born when their father, Josef, tackled the 14,000 km trek (including 7,470 km against the clock) for the seventh edition of the rally in the original version of this Puch. So, what is the backstory? That year, Josef was tasked with providing fast assistance for Gaston Rahier, Raymond Loizeaux and Jean-Claude Morellet (better known as "Fenouil"), the three factory riders hunting for glory in the saddle of their BMWs. However, because the marque did not produce a 4×4 of its own and was loath to source parts from its rivals at Mercedes, the favourites turned to the Austrian specialists at Puch. Despite having long since passed his eightieth birthday, "Beppo" has made the trip to Saudi Arabia to track the progress of the Replica driven by his sons. He is also on hand to recount his adventures from five decades ago: "One day, out on the track, we found 'Fenouil' with a blown engine, so we threw ourselves into a long mechanical session to get him fixed up and back in the race. However, over the following days, he became quite ill and had to withdraw", recalls Josef. "Gaston Rahier, on the other hand, steered clear of trouble and won Paris–Dakar for the second time in a row. As for us, we finished second-last, but it was one of the toughest editions ever!"

In the intervening years, the Dakar bug was passed from father to sons. The Puch has barely changed its look, save for the disappearance of the red-and-white branding of an American cigarette brand and the bunny of a well-known glamour magazine. Even so, Maximilian and Laurence are carrying on the adventure in their own right across the Saudi tracks and dunes: "The first week went well, though we have still had a few close shaves. During the stage before the rest day, we tipped it onto its side, but the car was undamaged. Since the restart, however, things have been more complicated because it's starting to show some weaknesses: cracks, the suspension, mounting points, and so on. But that's the Dakar and the most important thing is to cross the finish line." Beyond the sheer challenge of the event, Maximilian and Laurence also wanted this year's entry to serve as a tribute to their father: "It's an honour to carry on the passion that our father started in the family. He told us so many Dakar anecdotes, but he always said it couldn't be explained, you had to experience it for yourself." No doubt about it: this time, they're right in the thick of it.