Pablo Copetti plans to return to the Dakar Rally in 2026, two years after his last appearance, as the driver of an SSV. To prepare, he will race the Rallye du Maroc in October with MMP Compétition.

Copetti had raced the Dakar on a quad since 2010, finishing third in 2017, 2021, and 2023. After the ASO announced 2024 would be the last with the Quad class, Copetti opted not to take part.

Part of his absence was in protest of the organization’s policies that culminated in the category’s demise, such as tightening eligibility criteria to discourage riders from signing up for it. He contemplated entering in an SSV but couldn’t afford the move at that moment.

In April 2024, he acquired a Polaris RZR with plans of competing in SSV. While the Quad category still appears at three of the five W2RC rounds, the fact that it’s gone from Dakar was enough to prompt many riders to make the switch.

That October, Copetti entered the Rallye du Maroc for MMP Compétition with Santiago Hansen as navigator. He finished 12th in class.

A year later, he will return to Morocco ahead of competing in the 2026 Dakar in SSV. Copetti has been testing in Nevada and California with Carlos Verza to prepare.

Featured image credit: Florent Gooden / DPPI / ASO