“I watch it since I’m a kid and it fascinates me”

First opting for management over racing, F1 legend Niki Lauda’s firstborn, Lukas, helped his brother Mathias through diverse racing activities and to lead him to a role as an F1 analyst. Although not a professional racer, Lukas has developed a passion for rallies raid. He made an impressive debut in 2022 at the World Rally-Raid Championship in Morocco, driving a Can-Am Maverick. Backed and supported by the motocross and former rally-raid rider Heinz Kinigadner at the Hellas Rally, Lukas finished on the podium and took the win at the Tuareg Rallye in SSV. In 2023, he raced at the Rallye du Maroc and finished 13th. For 2024, he decided to face a new challenge on the Dakar with his experimented codriver Stefan Henken who used to race at the Dakar in truck class. He could have done it with his brother Matthias, but “I think it would not work, he said. Because we both want to drive.”

LL: “As a kid, I did a lot of motocross, and rode motorbikes all my life. I worked in sports marketing for many years, and I organized racing activities for my brother and others. I’ve never raced anything … and in 2022, Heinz Kinigadner invited me to Tunisia to test a Can-Am and I loved it. I bought a second-hand Can-Am from South Racing and started with my codriver Stefan to race some rallies. Heinz Kinigadner introduced me to Stefan. We are really a good team together. He taught me everything and I’m still learning. Dakar was always for me the biggest race and the adventure. I watch it since I’m a kid and it fascinates me. My goal is to learn a lot and try to be the best rookie maybe.”


SH: “I met Lukas thanks to a common friend, Heinz Kinigadner, a former motocross champion. Lukas wanted to drive a buggy in the Dakar and Heinz told him that if he wanted to do that, he should do it with me. He made the first contact, and we started off with a few small races on a Can-Am. I have a lot of experience as a driver, codriver, assistance… This will be a first for me and I’ll do my best to get us to the finish.”