Team VÖLKEL at the 2026 Dakar Rally

The 2026 Dakar Rally is over. Two weeks, thousands of kilometers, heat, dust, and long nights—and in the end a clear result: All six vehicles from Team VÖLKEL reached the finish.
What looks matter-of-fact on the results sheet was, in reality, a project that began long before the actual start and challenged everyone on the team.


The road to Dakar: arrive, prepare, focus

Before the first engine fired up in Saudi Arabia, we had already covered many kilometers. From Cologne via Berlin to Jeddah, then on to Yanbu. It was only there that the entire team came together again.
The vehicle handover marked the transition from planning to reality. From that moment on, it was all about the details: checking, sorting, arriving. The camp quickly became more than just a location. It became our mobile home and our workshop for the weeks ahead.

Administrative checks, technical inspection, and scrutineering followed. Every move was precise, every small detail was inspected. When all vehicles received the final go-ahead, it was clear: now the Dakar really begins.

The team and our 2026 line-up

We started the 2026 edition with six vehicles. Three Mercedes G-Class vehicles formed the sporting core of the team: the new VÖLKEL G-Class #765 with Ulrich Schmidt and Brigitte Reitbauer, the “Jacky Ickx” G-Class #708 with Jörg Sand and Onno den Boer, and G-Class #764 with Pawel Kosminski and Bartek Balicki. The line-up was completed by the Lada Niva #778 with Sladi Miljic and Marcel Adelmann.

Just as crucial were the two service trucks: Fast Response Truck #923 and Fast Camp Truck #918. They were our workshop, spare-parts warehouse, and the backbone of the entire project. Without them, not a single race day would have been possible.

Start, rhythm, and the reality of the Dakar Classic

The prologue delivered the first real impression. Short, but honest. Then came the first stages—and with them, the reality of the Dakar Classic.
This is not about top speed, but about precision. Navigation, consistent pace, clean decisions. Flat tires, minor technical issues, and long days were part of it from the very beginning.

What mattered was this: all vehicles made it through. The team found its rhythm, the routines clicked, and confidence grew. No spectacular start—just a stable one. And that is exactly what counts at Dakar.

Marathon stages and week two: when it gets serious

The marathon stages were the first major test. No outside help, no shortcuts. What isn’t fixed in the evening won’t continue the next day.
Wrenches turned at night; during the day there were dunes, soft sand, and hidden rocks. Every decision had consequences. Not everything went perfectly, but we stayed operational.

Week two didn’t make it easy for anyone either. Late returns to camp, technical setbacks, little sleep. Still, the team remained steady. Problems weren’t debated—they were solved.

Truck 918: written off, then back

One moment stands for this Dakar. Stage 9. Service Truck 918 is towed into camp. Engine failure.
In many cases, that would have been the end. Instead, a clear decision was made: we’ll try.

It quickly became clear that the repair would only be realistic with external support. The truck was taken to a local workshop, where the engine was repaired under intense time pressure. In parallel, the team handled the organization: coordination, approvals, time windows. Everyone knew what was at stake.

The plan worked. Truck 918 returned, received clearance, went back to the start—and ultimately crossed the final finish line. A mix of decisiveness, trust, and collaboration beyond team boundaries.

Conclusion: six vehicles, one achievement

The Dakar Classic doesn’t reward loud moments. It rewards preparation, precision, and consistency.
Our conclusion after 2026: the result is more than a position. It is the sum of planning, service, teamwork, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

Six vehicles at the finish. That’s no coincidence. That’s Team VÖLKEL.