“Back in the Mitsubishi Pajero that took part in the 1999 Granada-Dakar”
CREW FACTS
P.B.L.
- After a year away from the Dakar Classic, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe is back at 80 years old with his faithful co-driver, Frenchman Jean-Michel Gayte.
- Another thing that doesn’t change is the choice of car, with the pair once again aboard their Mitsubishi Pajero that took part in the 1999 Granada - Dakar.
- And as usual they’ll be relying on David Casteu for assistance.
- This 2025 Dakar Classic will be more of a family affair than ever. Two years ago, Peter’s son Andres drove the second ‘family’ Pajero. This year Andres will be co-piloted by his brother Nicolas who previously competed in the Dakar in both the motorcycle and SSV categories.
J-M G
- Jean-Michel did his first Dakar Classic with his associate and Peter was in the same team with David Casteu. Neither of their respective partners wanted to go a second time so it was natural to team up.
- Peter is an Austrian living in Switzerland and Jean-Michel is French. By his own admission Jean-Michel is not a gifted linguist. In the car they speak French.
- This will be Jean-Michel’s 3rd Dakar Classic and a chance for him to achieve his dream in a team he holds with great affection.
2025 AMBITIONS
P.B.L. : “Having just celebrated my 80 birthday was a good motivation to try the true Dakar once more. My first objective is to be again a finisher - in what ranking will be decided by navigation skills and mechanics.”
J-M.G.: “I have a business with a partner repairing big industrial electric motors, big things that weigh 6 or 7 tons. We’re very busy but we have organised it so that we can both pursue our passions. Mine is cross fit and horses and every year my wife and I go off for two one-week trips with our horses covering about 200 kilometres each time. And now I have a passion for rally raids. The navigation aspect is super complicated but I take it seriously and have studied hard to make sure I know what I’m doing. I’ve had some very good days and some not so good days. The problem is that so many things can happen that can impact negatively on your ranking. But that is also what makes it interesting.”
