María Helena Tarruell Tibau was supposed to lead the first Spanish truck crew solely consisting of women at the 2026 Dakar Rally. Unfortunately, Tibau Team announced just a week before the race that the effort has been suspended.

“This decision has been taken due to reasons external to the team, beyond the will, work and preparation carried out by our structure,” the team explained on Monday. “As a team with a long and proven history at the Dakar, we believe it is essential to always act with responsibility, rigor and coherence, especially in a project as demanding and meaningful as the women’s team, with which Tibau Team maintains a very special bond.

“We would like to express our sincere and explicit gratitude to Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) for their understanding, closeness and support throughout this entire process, as well as publicly acknowledge the commitment of all the people and brands who believed in the project and worked with dedication and professionalism until the very end.

“Our passion for the Dakar and for motorsport remains intact. Tibau Team fully maintains its commitment to the rest of its crews and sporting projects.”

The niece of team owner Rafael Tibau, Tarruell debuted the truck at the 2024 Baja Aragón with Jaqueline Ricci and Rebeca Aramburu accompanying her. They finished ninth in Truck. A year later, the effort returned to Aragón with Arantxa Martí replacing Aramburu, placing ninth yet again.

Tarruell previously raced the Dakar Classic in 2021, finishing tenth as navigator for Pere Barrios. She’s since remained involved at Dakar as a member of Tibau’s rally assistance team.

The trio was supposed to pilot an IVECO PowerStar at Dakar in the T5.2 class for service vehicles. They would’ve been the third team solely consisting of women to run the Dakar Rally after Véronique Jacquot–Géraldine Brucy–Uta Baier in 2004 and Anja Van Loon–Floor Maten–Marije van Ettekoven in 2024.

Tibau Team, also known as Tibau Rally Assistance, will still be at Dakar with Pol Tibau in the #630, Jesús Borrero Gómez in the #637, and Jordi Esteve in the #648.

Featured image credit: Tibau Team