“A dream to come back in such a beautiful place”
En resumen
J.V.
- Jan Vins’ life revolves around vehicles. Professionally, he is the owner of a truck service company. He is also a regular competitor on the Czech and Austrian autocross circuits. Desert lover, he will be racing in his third consecutive Dakar Classic.
- The Czech driver will compete for the third time in a row with his 1996 Mitsubishi Pajero. He has a score to settle after suffering a technical issue that forced him to change the engine last year. The 2026 edition will also mark his first participation alongside Jiri Kopriva, who is making his third attempt as well.
- The team he represents, Gold Motorsport, was founded over five years ago by a group of autocross enthusiasts. It has recently expanded with the addition of Katerina Vanova and Petr Vana, the first married Czech couple to participate in the Dakar Rally. Gold Motorsport runs for F*ck Cancer, a Czech nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting cancer patients and raising awareness about the cancer.
J.K.
- "Never two without three", as the proverb goes. Jiri Kopriva is gearing up for his third Dakar Classic after two previous participations. For his debut in 2023, he secured third place in his category, navigating for Ollie Rouckova in a Suzuki Samurai.
- Last year, he upgraded to a more powerful vehicle, the Toyota Land Cruiser 90, alongside Ondrej Martinec. Their perseverance was rewarded as they finished even after two days of fuel tank repairs. Jiri’s precise navigation and proven experience convinced Jan Vins to invite him to join the team for Dakar 2026.
Ambición
J.V.: “I was a Dakar newcomer in 2024, with experience only in autocross. It was a big challenge for me, my main goal was simply to finish and I succeeded. In 2025, our plans for a strong result were disrupted by a mechanical problem and even though we were riding well, it was too late to reach a top position. For me, finishing was already a success. Both Dakar rallies gave me invaluable experience, and I truly appreciated completing them. I gained a lot of knowledge that I hope to apply in Dakar 2026 to achieve a better result. And most importantly, to finish. That’s why I teamed up with Jiri, a great navigator with Dakar Classic experience. We will do our best to achieve the best possible result. Our Mitsubishi Pajero has been fully inspected and repaired. It suits me well, and I’m looking forward to the adrenaline of the race.”
J.K.: “This will be my third Dakar Classic, and it’s a dream come true to return to such a beautiful place. My first goal is to finish the race. If the car holds up, I hope to make it into the top 20 – and maybe even the top 10.”
