“It tests you in ways no other race does”
En bref
M.S.
- Martin Soltys is gearing up for his eighth Dakar in the trucks in 2026. The Czech driver will spearhead the Buggyra ZM Racing team in the new Buggyra Invictus, having played a major role in the truck's development.
- The 52-year-old was on course for his best-ever finish at Dakar 2025, sitting fourth overall with two days to go, but a broken crankshaft on Stage 11 and a broken compressor on Stage 12 plunged him down to 14th. He did last year's edition in the Buggyra EVO3, which will be driven by teammate Karel Posledni at Dakar 2026.
- Martin started out as a support driver for Martin Kolomy at Dakar 2018 but has gradually imposed himself as a leader in his own right. He has represented Buggyra at six of his seven appearances, only leaving to link up with Martin Macik's MM Technology team at Dakar 2022. He also missed Dakar 2024 after a skiing accident and was replaced by Pascal de Baar.
- Until last year, Martin had improved his result every time he finished the Dakar. He knows he is capable of breaking into the top five and maybe even challenging for an overall podium.
- Martin rarely has time to race outside of the Dakar, but he did take a confidence-boosting win at Baja Poland in August 2024, describing it as "pure joy".
V.M.
- Vlastimil Miksch works as a computer-aided designer (CAD) for the Buggyra ZM Racing team and will be making his second outing as a navigator at Dakar 2026. He helped to design the new Invictus, notably working on the layout of the cabin.
- The 37-year-old Czech grew up just two kilometres away from a racetrack which hosted motocross and European championship autocross, so he's always been into motorsport. He says the track was “like a playground” growing up, a place where he and his friends “destroyed millions of bikes”.
- Vlastimil started out in downhill bike racing, then took up motocross at 18 when he began earning a bit of money. Through his motocross contacts, he heard about Buggyra entering their first Dakar in 2014 and ended up getting a job with the team. He has been there ever since.
T.S.
- Tomas Sikola is a highly experienced mechanic who will be doing his ninth Dakar in 2026. The 39-year-old made his debut alongside Martin Soltys in 2018 and remained on his crew for the next three editions (2019-21).
- In 2022 he linked up with three-time Dakar quads winner Ignacio Casale, then helped Jaroslav Valtr finish fifth in 2023. He was the only member of the current crew to compete in 2024, finishing 11th with Pascal de Baar, before joining up with Martin again in 2025.
- Tomas has previously described the Dakar as "the toughest race in the world" and says "there's no better way to prepare for it than by doing it!"
Ambition
M.S.: “Of course the end of Dakar 2025 was frustrating, because we were on course for a very strong finish. But Dakar is Dakar. It tests you in ways no other race does. Overall, I was satisfied with our pace. We were competitive in the dunes, we handled the long marathon sections well, and the crew worked perfectly together. The biggest positive for me was seeing how resilient we were. Even with problems, we stayed calm and kept fighting. That gives me a lot of confidence for 2026. The Invictus is a big step forward. The chassis is stiffer, the weight distribution is better, and the suspension has been completely reworked. We also focused on cooling, which is crucial for long dune sections. Compared to the EVO3, the truck feels more stable and more predictable at high speed. I believe the Invictus has the potential to run right at the front of the category if we execute everything correctly. It's great to be coming back with the same crew; that consistency is a huge advantage. We know each other's rhythms, how we communicate and how we react to stress. On the Dakar, chemistry is just as important as speed. A successful crew needs trust, honesty and calm decision-making. With Vlastimil and Tomas, I know exactly what to expect, and they know exactly what I need from them. That stability allows us to focus on performance rather than adaptation. Our ambitions? First of all, to finish without major issues. The Dakar is too unpredictable to set overconfident targets. But with the new truck and the same crew, I definitely want us to fight for a place among the top teams. A clean, fast and intelligent rally is the ambition. If we deliver that, the result will follow.”
V.M.: “My first Dakar was intense and unforgettable. You can prepare for years, but nothing fully matches the real Dakar environment. The pace, the pressure and the constant focus required were all on another level. But I loved it. Navigating in such a demanding race gives you a huge adrenaline boost and a lot of respect for the sport. The biggest lesson was how fast you must analyse the terrain and make decisions. Mentally, you need to be ahead of the truck all the time. I also learned how important it is to manage your energy and concentration across the whole day. For 2026, my preparation has been much more structured: more simulation work, more time on physical endurance and more training with the exact roadbook formats we expect to see. I worked mainly on the ergonomics and navigation layout of the new truck. Making sure the cabin is better organised and more comfortable during long stages. The communication systems have also been improved based on our feedback from 2025. And yes, the Invictus is a significant upgrade. The stability and suspension changes alone put it on another level. From the navigator’s seat, you feel more control and less random movement. We have the experience, the teamwork and now a stronger truck. If we stay out of major trouble, we can put together a very competitive rally. Our goal is to be among the consistent, front-running crews, and I believe we can achieve that. The foundation is there.”
T.S.: “Martin and I have known each other for a long time, and working together again last year was very natural. Every driver is different, but with Martin the communication is smooth, and the trust is strong. Having the same crew again for 2026 is a big advantage. We already know how to handle pressure together, and that experience counts for a lot. I've already tested the new truck and the progress is clear. The revised suspension absorbs impacts much better, the cooling is more efficient, and the maintenance layout has been redesigned to allow faster service if something goes wrong. For a mechanic, that makes a huge difference. The truck is more robust but also easier to work on; exactly what you want for Dakar. The job of onboard mechanic has become far more complex. The trucks are faster, which means the loads and temperatures are higher. At the same time, the electronics and onboard systems are more sophisticated, so as a mechanic you need to understand both the mechanical and electronic side. You have to make decisions quickly and diagnose problems on the move. The job is more demanding than ever, but also more rewarding. If we avoid major mechanical issues, stay consistent and keep the truck in good condition, we can fight for a strong result. Success for me is seeing the team work perfectly together, and crossing the finish line knowing we gave everything.”
