The Spaniards Mariano De Quadros and Javier Gimeno share their FenekRally 2024 experience aboard a Fiat Panda Trekking in the Overland category. Here’s their exciting sporting and human adventure… and why you should participate!
“It’s truly an incredible experience to venture into the desert without any cars around that can provide even the slightest help or reference: starting as the last team, we always drove and navigated completely on our own,” enthusiastically recounts Mariano De Quadros, the driver, and Javier Gimeno, the co-driver, both from Madrid and colleagues in a Spanish multinational banking group (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria).
“Without the pressure of the stopwatch, last year in the Overland category, we fully enjoyed the emotions of the raid, even giving ourselves some satisfaction, like helping a couple of teams registered in the actual race who had lost their way along the route. What we really liked about the FenekRally, besides the landscapes and views, was the welcoming atmosphere created by the organization: they made us feel like we had known each other for a lifetime, everyone was available and ready to lend a hand.”
Accompanying the off-road adventure of the Spaniards Mariano and Javier, aged 49 and 47 respectively, was a Fiat Panda 4×4 Trekking, which underwent some improvements for participation in the event in Morocco: “Aside from the installation of 3 cm higher suspensions replacing the original ones, a roll bar, and a snorkel, the rest is original: the engine, with its 50 horsepower, is stock, as is the radiator and even the seats,” explains Mariano, who participated in the Dakar Classic in 2022, several editions of the Panda Raid, and numerous off-road events in Spain, while his co-driver Javier has five editions of the Panda Raid and various 4×4 tests in Spain under his belt.
“The FenekRally is an experience we absolutely recommend for anyone looking to take on an adventure at a professional or amateur level. Depending on the vehicle you have, you can register in the most suitable category,” they conclude from Kun Fu Panda. “It’s a rally-raid that allows you to train for the Dakar and other speed-oriented competitions, but also to improve your navigation techniques. Lluís Rosa and the organization provide everything they can to ensure the adventure is as enjoyable as possible. And then the route is truly impressive: dunes, dirt roads, dry rivers, mountains…
Starting from the 2025 edition – scheduled from November 15 to 23 – alongside the already established Rallye and Overland categories, there will also be a new mode, Adventure, ideal for those who want to approach the world of rally-raids and for beginners: it’s enough to have a minimum of experience in off-road driving and… an unquenchable desire for adventure!
Information on registrations and modalities can be found at www.fenekrally.com
