After doing the last two Dakar Classics, Madpanda Motorsport will try the Africa Eco Race for the first time in 2026 with their 1993 Toyota Land Cruiser HDJ80.

A Barcelona outfit founded by the Pérez Companc family in 2020, Madpanda Motorsport operates two departments in vastly differing disciplines. The GT3 division primarily competes in GT World Challenge Europe, enjoying a five-year factory partnership with Mercedes-AMG until the end of 2024.

The historic rally arm is on the opposite extreme. Besides the Land Cruiser, the team also has a 1975 Ford Escort used in vintage stage rallies and a 1939 Chevrolet Fangio. The latter mainly appears at ERA and pre-war rallies like the Peking to Paris.

Meanwhile, the Land Cruiser is intended for vintage rally raids such as the Dakar Classic. Jorge Pérez Companc drove it in January’s race but retired after four stages due to terminal front axle damage. Pérez Companc’s family is one of the wealthiest in Argentina, and he and his brother Ezequiel have done races on both pavement and off-road.

“The Africa Eco Race is renowned for its spirit of endurance, navigation, and solidarity. Values that perfectly match who we are as a team,” reads a team statement. “This journey through some of the most iconic desert landscapes in the world will be a true test for both crew and machine.”

Featured image credit: Aurélien Vialatte / ASO