“We have everything we need to win”
En bref
P.S.
- Heading into his seventh Dakar, Paul Spierings has already had two lives in the desert: alone on his bike, for his first three participations, and in a car since 2023, storming the dunes aboard lightweight prototypes with Jan Pieter van der Stelt. A friend that he met a long time ago, when both were riding bikes.
- The partnership established with Rebellion and Alexandre Pesci’s team, in 2025, allowed Spierings to develop his organization and expand his ambitions. This was reflected in the results, as Paul won two stages and fought for a podium finish before a mechanical failure. A childhood dream is coming true for him, and it only increased his motivation.
- A fierce competitor, Paul is always looking for ways to improve. Feeling faster than ever with the Taurus T3 Max he discovered in the Dakar 2025, he spent a lot of time during the year testing parts to gain the extra seconds that, he hopes, will lead him to the victory in January.
J.P.vd.S.:
- Jan Pieter van der Stelt met Paul Spierings when they were both motorcycle riders. Their connection began there, and they traveled together in a small van to go racing. Jan Pieter became one of Paul’s best friends, and one of his Dakar sponsors. When Paul decided it was time to retire from two wheels, he asked Jan Pieter to become his car navigator.
- Together, they have built a strong private team, now supported by Rebellion. Good car and mechanics, fast assistance: they have recently made a huge technical step. They were fighting for a podium finish in the Challenger class in 2025 when a mechanical problem dashed their hopes.
- The Dutch duo had one of their best seasons, notably winning the Rallye Breslau Poland in SSV, before finishing fourth in the Rallye du Maroc in Challenger. Some good results that confirm that they are now among the main contenders. No Dutchman has ever won in the lightweight prototype category... but there's a first time for everything.
Ambition
P.S.: “The three years on the bike were absolutely amazing, and I enjoyed every moment. The only downside was the solitude. Now, with my own team, I feel incredibly happy. I am constantly amazed by how everything is coming together, and I’m very grateful for everything we have achieved so far. I took a lot from my experience on the bike: when you ride, you have to do everything alone -navigation, reading the track, looking at the bumps… The buggy is safer and more friendly, also because my navigator is one of my best friends. The beginning of the 2025 edition was good; we were fast, we learned a lot, but then we damaged our engine. That was tough, but we finished by winning the last stage, which was a strong ending. We have one goal, and that is to win the Dakar in the Challenger category! We tested a lot with the vehicle and have a perfect team with strong, fast assistance. We have everything we need to win.”
J.P.vd.S.: “The last Dakar was our first one in a Taurus, and the car suits Paul perfectly. After winning the 48h Chrono stage, we realized that we could fight for a Top 5 finish, maybe even a podium. Our car broke down on a road section, which is a bad feeling, but we managed to come back and finish the race by winning in the Empty Quarter. Two stage wins, almost the entire race on the podium… It’s a great feeling. We really enjoyed our new car and our new team. The whole package is a step forward for us. After that, we were highly motivated and drove much more this year than before -in Spain, Hungary, Morocco, and more- to prepare for Dakar 2026, because we have big ambitions. I always stay cautious when talking about goals, but we will try to fight for a Top 5 result or a podium finish. We have high expectations and we are excited. The 2026 Dakar route? It always looks easier than it really is! We know it will be like always: challenging and full of surprises.”
