“My main goal, after six attempts without a finish, is to reach the end”
CREW FACTS
S.M.
- Stefano Marrini has participated in 6 Dakars and over 60 FIA World Rally Championship races, with notable performances like P4 at Monte Carlo and 6th in Australia in the PRWC.
- Combining motorsport and business, he founded the Atakama bike brand and runs a workshop where he prepares racing cars, using contacts developed throughout his international career.
- As a dedicated cyclist, he reached Everest Base Camp (5,348 m) on his Atakama bicycle and completed the 150 km Rovaniemi ultra-marathon in Finland, riding solo for 32 hours in -30°C conditions.
M.L.
- Matteo Lardori will take part in his first Dakar as a navigator, focusing on learning the electronic roadbook and navigation techniques, with the objective of reaching the finish line.
- A mechanic and driver, he owns a quad and SSV dealership and has over 10 years of racing experience, including five Italian championships and three wins at Hunt the Wolf, an off-road SSV race.
- In 2025, he plans to continue competing in the Italian championship and aims to participate in select rounds of the Baja World Cup.
AMBITIONS 2025
S.M.: “Since my last Dakar in 2020, I’ve competed in several rallies, national championships, and other events. Last year, I participated in the Cross-Country Baja World Cup, where I achieved some good results and finished 6th in SSV. This year, I competed in the Qatar International Rally and finished 2nd in SSV. I also raced in one round of the national championship, where I won my category and finished 3rd overall. At the Qatar International Baja, I had to retire due to mechanical issues. This will be my seventh Dakar. My main goal, after six attempts without a finish, is to reach the end and earn the finisher's medal. It won’t be easy because I’m a privateer with a limited budget, which means I can’t replace spare parts daily like other drivers. I’ll need to drive carefully, avoid problems, and stay alert to obstacles like stones. It will be a real challenge, but I will do my best to make it to the finish line.”
M.L.: “This is my first Dakar, and I’m very excited about this new adventure. It’s also my first time as a navigator, so I’m learning everything from the electronic roadbook to the specific vocabulary. It’s going to be a very exciting challenge. Our main goal is to finish the race. Stefano, who has already competed in several Dakar, has taught me a lot, and I’m preparing by studying intensively and practicing with the Dakar game, which is very realistic and serves as an excellent training tool before the start. I’m a mechanic and a driver in my daily life, as I own a quad and SSV dealership. Having a navigator who is also a mechanic can be a huge advantage in finishing the race. Motorsports are both my profession and my passion. I’ve been racing quads and SSVs for over 10 years and have won five Italian championships, three editions of the toughest off-road race for SSVs, Hunt the Wolf, and two Italian Cups. The quads I race are completely built by me. In 2025, besides competing in this Dakar, I plan to continue racing in the Italian championship and hope to organize myself to participate in some rounds of the Baja World Cup.”
