“The result is the icing on the cake”
CREW FACTS
F.C.
- An enthusiast for antique vehicles, on the ground and in the air as well (he owns a Bushplane and a vintage biplane), Filippo Colnaghi is passionate for the desert and is used to driving iconic cars, including his grandfather’s BMW 507, that he used for the Mille Miglia, and a GS bike that took him to Tunisia.
- Colnaghi discovered the Arabian desert and the Dakar Classic in 2024 and made it through the event in 14th position, with a stage podium finish.
- With a new car - a Nissan Patrol Y60 with which he finished 3rd of the Pionniers Classic - and a new co-pilot - Daniele Bottallo, 3rd of the Dakar Classic in 2023 and 2024 -, Colnaghi aims for the highest positions in 2025.
D.B.
- Daniele Bottalo’s acute eyes make wonders as a photograph, especially when it comes to international tennis events such as Roland-Garros and the ATP Masters Finals, and as a navigator, who finished 3rd of the Dakar Classic in 2023 and 2024, alongside Paolo Bedeschi.
- Daniele’s off-road enthusiasm was inspired by his father, Walter Bottallo, with whom he storms the Moroccan desert every year with the Panda Raid.
2025 AMBITIONS
F.C.: “ I’d say the main change this year is the car. Last year, I participated mainly for the experience and to better understand the vehicle. The Nissan Terrano I was a good entry-level car to approach this sport, but it wasn’t ideal for heavy-duty challenges. This year, I wanted a vehicle that struck the perfect balance between power and aesthetics.
The Tecnosport Team started from scratch with a 1994 Nissan Patrol Y60 GR, transforming it into not just a good-looking car but a heavy-duty war machine. Its 1980s-inspired design pays homage to the pioneering spirit of the early Dakar era, a time when the rally ventured into truly uncharted territory.”
D.B.: “I said that the Dakar was something I hoped to do at least once in my life, then I was lucky enough to be able to do a second and now a third. This year I was undecided, it's not easy to reconcile work and personal commitments and to be away for twenty days, but the call of the desert, of adventure, is strong! So, when I received the proposal for this new project with Filippo, I accepted.
I always compete to try and win, but the rivals are always stronger and there are many pitfalls in a race like the Dakar, so as always, I'll try to do my best but I have no illusions about the standings.
A good Dakar would mean having fun, bringing back a lot of other great emotions like those of past years, meeting interesting people... And if a good result came along too, that would be the icing on the cake.”
