EBRO Audax Motorsport is preparing for its historic debut in the Dakar Rally with Laia Sanz at the wheel of the EBRO s800 XRR T1+. The Barcelona-born driver, a 20-time world champion (14 in trial and 6 in enduro) with a brilliant career in the Dakar, arrives determined to lead the team’s first participation in the world’s toughest race, which will be held from 3 to 17 January.
For the driver from Corbera de Llobregat, “it is an honour to be the first driver of this project and to be part of a team that is building something so ambitious from the ground up.”
With Audax Renovables as main sponsor and the support of KH-7 and CA Autobank, Laia Sanz approaches this challenge eager to show her potential in the premier class (Ultimate), in which she is competing for the first time. The 2025 Rallye du Maroc, the final round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), served as the first major test for both EBRO Audax Motorsport and Sanz with a T1+.
"Morocco allowed us to get to know the EBRO s800 XRR better, work on the setup and operate as a team under real race conditions. It was a fundamental step towards arriving at the Saudi Arabia event with greater confidence," the driver explains.
The Catalan and Taye Perry – who replaced Maurizio Gerini due to a sudden appendicitis – completed the rally in 20th overall and 18th in Ultimate, gaining valuable mileage and drawing key conclusions to approach the Dakar with stronger foundations.
In her 16th participation in the rally – her fifth in a car – Laia Sanz will once again be accompanied by her usual co-driver, Italian Maurizio Gerini, with whom she aims to complete the full route and secure a strong final result. Sanz is one of the standout figures of the Dakar. With 15 starts – all finished except one – and the accolade of best female rider in the history of the event’s motorcycle category (9th overall in 2015), she has also shown impressive performance in the cars. In 2024 she finished 15th overall (third in the 4x2 category) and was the first woman in the standings.
"Competing with a T1+ has been a goal since I started racing in cars. It’s a big step forward. I believe we have a reliable vehicle and a very solid team. My plan is to run a rally from less to more, with strategy and intelligence, without rushing, making the most of my accumulated experience, and giving everything to take the EBRO as far forward as possible," she adds.
With 7,994 kilometres – 4,900 timed – and start and finish in Yanbu (Saudi Arabia), the Spanish team will face 14 demanding stages filled with dunes, rocks, complex navigation and marathon-length days that will test both mechanical endurance and physical stamina.
This historic entry in the Dakar comes at a decisive moment for the company, which has just celebrated the first anniversary of the restart of production at EBRO Factory in Zona Franca. In just twelve months, EBRO has achieved major industrial and commercial milestones, including the consolidation of a commercial network with more than 80 dealerships and the launch of four models, the latest being the s900 PHEV 4x4, the brand’s new flagship, joining the s400, s700 and s800.
"Bringing the EBRO name to the dunes of the Dakar barely a year after restarting the assembly line is the best demonstration of the ambition and strength of this project," says Pedro Calef, CEO of EBRO Motors. “2025 has been the year of industrial revival, the launch of key models and our market expansion; now the Dakar is the perfect global showcase to project the values of sacrifice, teamwork and courage that brought us here.”Meanwhile, José Elías, president of Audax Renovables, notes: “This sponsorship is not just about putting our name on a car; it means joining an adventure that inspires. A project that revives a historic name in Spanish automotive and is gaining ground in a competitive market. An ambitious initiative which, like Audax, has a strong present and solid prospects for growth, innovation and sustainability.”
EBRO Audax Motorsport and Laia Sanz now head into the desert with the ambition of completing their first Dakar together and strengthening their sporting project. The adventure begins here.
Source Ebro.
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