“Our off-road career started with small remote-controlled cars!”
En bref
S.G.
- Stefan Gerhmann and Sebastian Gatz have known each other almost their entire lives. Their parents were friends before they became friends themselves. As children, they played with remote-controlled cars; today, they work on much bigger toys. But Stefan is not only capable of building and repairing vehicles: he is also a civil engineer and owner of a big building construction company.
- The Gerhmanns are truly passionate about Dakar Rally. Stefan’s father raced off-road vehicles, and the family never missed the race on television. Stefan remembers his parents driving their camper van to Paris during holidays to watch the Dakar vehicles depart on New Year’s morning.
- Owner of a Can-Am Maverick X3 with Sebastian, Stefan first learned about the Dakar Classic by meeting other rally-raid enthusiasts at the Hellas Rally. He competed twice in Greece, finishing 12th and 9 th . He heads into the 2026 Dakar confident in his crew’s abilities, relying on friendship, mutual support, and resourcefulness. While he trained in a sandy area in Germany, he knows the conditions in Saudi Arabia will be entirely different and new to both competitors.
S.Gatz.
- Sebastian’s off-road journey began with his father’s old Toyota BJ80, which they used together. Eager to go ahead, the Hamburg native bought a Can-Am Maverick X3 with his friend Stefan. Since off-roading opportunities are limited in Germany, the duo signed up for the Hellas Rally. There, they made valuable connections and began to discover the world of rally-raids, including the Dakar Classic. They eventually acquired a Mercedes SK, a truck that has already competed several times, to participate in 2026.
- Sebastian Gatz and Stefan Gerhmann are friends since their childhood, as their parents were also friends. As children, they started out playing with small remote-controlled cars. Today, they work on much larger vehicles. Both are resourceful and unafraid to get their hands dirty, and Sebastian is a man of many talents. As in his professional life, where he is capable of being a financial consultant as well as an automotive mechatronics technician.
- Competitive in the Hellas Rally -finishing 12th in 2023 and 9th in 2024-, the two Germans proved to be fast learners. However, they have no experience on the Saudi terrain they will face in 2026. A unique aspect of their adventure: they will compete as a duo instead of the usual three-person truck crew. This is a deliberate choice to preserve the friendly, relaxed atmosphere they have always maintained.
Ambition
S.Gerhmann.: “I was at the start of the Dakar with my parents in Paris, I think it was in 1992. We were watching every minute of the Dakar, and my mom will visit us at the bivouac. So yes, we can say it’s a family passion! With Sebastian, our off-road career started with small remote-controlled cars! We were kids and our dads drove SUVs together, doing trial rock climbing, slow, precise driving… and later we started following in their footsteps! Our main goal is simply to reach the finish line, driving the last day along the sea and arriving in Yanbu. We trained with the truck in a sandy area in Germany, we know the basics but here are no dunes there. We’re just two in the truck, as we thought it was important to keep a good vibe and good feelings. It should be very hard, but in Greece, we were the only private team without a mechanic, a small car to sleep, and still finished 12th and then 9th . Sometimes it’s easier not to overthink everything.”
S.Gatz.: “I’ve done off-road driving all my life, first enjoying it with my father, going together for some rides or at small events. I have always followed the Dakar, but competing in it was like a dream far, far away. We did a good team work with my friend Stefan at the Hellas Rally, but we also made great connections with other people and learned a lot about the Dakar Classic. That’s how it started. Our goal is to enjoy every moment, seeing other rally teams, watching trucks and pickups in action… Living the Dakar dream for two weeks. First, we want to have fun; second, to reach the finish line; and third, the cherry on the cake would be to finish in a good position. We’re rookies and I think we’ll have a great time. This is also our first time in Saudi Arabia, so we are excited to see the country and landscapes, learn from the experience, and meet other rally enthusiasts. This hobby opens doors and you never know where it will end. That’s what happened with us: we started in Greece knowing nobody, and now we know so many people and we’re here.”
