“No matter how strong the opponent is, it will be a very enjoyable game”
CREW FACTS
W.H.
- Wei Han is the most successful Chinese driver in Dakar history. In six participations in the cars, he has claimed two top-10 finishes, including a national record of 8th overall in 2023. That year, he topped the two-wheel-drive T1.2 class in his SMG buggy.
- The 52-year-old from Zhejiang has long been passionate about motorsport and created his own team in 2008. He went on to become one of the most decorated performers on the national rally scene, and recently won the famous Taklimakan Rally for the 4th time (2015, 2016, 2018, 2024).
- After doing his first five editions of the Dakar in an SMG buggy - having gone into business with the French manufacturer in 2016 - he switched to a Red-Lined REVO T1+ for Dakar 2024. Unfortunately, he was forced to withdraw for the first time when co-driver Li Ma got injured at the end of the first week.
- For Dakar 2025, HanWei Motorsport have built their own car, the HWM T1+, boasting a Chevrolet LS3 6.2L engine. While Wei is coy about their chances, saying they are "mainly testing the new car", he has shown in the past that he is a force to be reckoned with.
- Last year's Red-Lined REVO T1+ will be driven by the team's second crew of Po Tian and Hangting Guo.
L.M.
- Li Ma has always been fond of motorsport and started out as a mechanic. It was through his work repairing vehicles that he came into contact with professional racing and "fell in love" with rally-raid.
- The 41-year-old demonstrated his skills as a co-driver by guiding Ping Sun to 4th place at the Silk Way Rally 2019. He teamed up with Wei for the first time at Dakar 2022, although they finished down in 37th after inadvertently infringing FIA regulations and incurring some hefty penalties.
- He has described Dakar 2023 as "a perfect race" and says he has "a very harmonious relationship" with Wei in the car. This will be their fourth Dakar together.
2025 AMBITIONS
W.H.: “The Red-Lined car is very good, but our navigator got injured and we had to withdraw from Dakar 2024. It was the first time I didn't finish the rally, so I had a few regrets! Although I retired from the Dakar, the 2024 season was still very rewarding and we won the Taklimakan Rally. HanWei Motorsport has built a new HWM T1+ car for Dakar 2025. We hope it will prove itself on the track and have a good performance. I know it's difficult to finish in the Top 10 at the Dakar. This year, we are mainly testing the new car. I don't have higher expectations for the results, but we will spare no effort to exert the strength of the team and achieve the best results to give back to my sponsors. No matter how strong the opponent is, as long as you play your best, it will be a very enjoyable game.”
L.M.: “This year I've improved my level by gaining experience in competition, watching more driving videos and communicating with more people. Wei Han and I participated in the Taklimakan Rally and secured first place. I hope that our independently developed HWM T1+ racing car can complete this Dakar perfectly and we can improve our own best result. Compared to a two-wheel drive buggy, a T1+ gives me the feeling that we can go through corners at a higher speed. It has better passability and acceleration in complex road conditions.”
