The Spanish driver shares his experience from last year’s edition, among dunes, strategies, and unexpected challenges.

The desert doesn’t forgive, but it can offer unique emotions to those who dare to challenge
it. FenekRally, increasingly recognized among Dakar-style rally raids, is a competition
where technique, navigation, and mental endurance matter as much as speed. Among the
protagonists of the 2025 edition is José Antonio Guerra, 59, an entrepreneur from Premià
de Mar (Barcelona) and a veteran of desert competitions with numerous podiums in
Tunisia and Morocco. At his side is navigator Xavi Ribas, also 59 and an entrepreneur
from Mataró, who shares not only the cockpit but also a bond-built race by race over thirty
years of friendship. Together they have written important chapters of FenekRally,
becoming the only team to win both in Tunisia and Morocco, as well as winning the 2023
Spanish Regularity Championship after an extremely competitive season.
In this interview, Guerra explains what it really means to race across African dunes and
tracks, combining strategy, unexpected events, and the passion that continues to drive him
toward new challenges.

Why did you decide to participate in the FenekRally 2025? Was it a personal
challenge or the call of the desert?
We’ve participated in several editions of FenekRally, and we are fascinated by its concept,
heavily inspired by the great raids like the Dakar. For us, it is always a personal challenge:
beyond the results, every stage is a concentration of emotions, between routes, difficulties,
and the spirit of adventure.
What was the toughest moment of the race?
The weight of the competition is felt from the very start. Even with years of experience,
until you are actually racing, there’s always the doubt that something might
fail—electronics, mechanics, every detail counts. The hardest moment came the day we
were forced to retire due to a mechanical failure. We had already noticed a loss of power
in the morning, but we continued to defend our position until the dunes, our favourite
terrain. We were close to the finish line, with a good lead over our pursuers, but the car
could no longer climb. We tried until the very end, then had to stop to prevent further
damage. That’s motorsport: sometimes you have everything under control, and it slips
away.
How important was navigation for your result?
Fundamental. In the desert, the fastest driver doesn’t always win—it’s the one who makes
the fewest mistakes. That was precisely our strategy: no navigation errors. We didn’t have
the most powerful car, so we focused on precision. We made very few mistakes, which
immediately put us at the top of the leaderboard, at times more than 40 minutes ahead.
The credit also goes to my relationship with Xavi: we’ve raced together for years, and in
the car, our understanding is total.
From a physical and mental perspective, how important are strategy and energy
management?
They are decisive. You must always know your position in the race and pace your efforts,
both physically and mechanically. The goal is to make it to the finish line, stage by stage.
Last year, a mechanical issue stopped us, even though we were trying to manage
everything carefully. Unfortunately, there are variables you cannot control.

What vehicle did you use for FenekRally 2025?
We raced in a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero DID (Team RDLUNA Maquinaria), a car we’ve
been using for three years. It’s reliable and solid. Preparation is classic: roll-bar, separate-
reservoir shock absorbers, underbody protection, and good tires. Then you work a bit on
power… and go have fun!
Did you have technical problems during the race?
Yes, two main issues. In the second stage, we broke a front axle before refueling and
completed the stage in rear-wheel drive—it was… interesting, to say the least. Fortunately,
we had the spare part and managed to fix everything in the parc fermé. The second
problem was decisive: the loss of power that forced us to retire. Only after returning did,
we discover it was caused by a broken intercooler.
Looking ahead to 2026: will you return to FenekRally?
Yes, the plan is to be at the start of the September edition. If the calendar allows, I would
like to race again with Xavi, even though we have different plans this year. As for the car, it
will probably be a Toyota Land Cruiser, but I haven’t decided yet.