FPT TOWARDS DAKAR 2026: WHERE TECHNOLOGY MEETS THE ULTIMATE Adventure
FPT is gearing up for Dakar 2026, once again confirming its role as Technical Partner of the de Rooy FPT teams, led by drivers Aleš Loprais and Vaidotas Žala.
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This year, FPT’s involvement in the world’s toughest rally is even stronger: beyond the official team, an impressive 20 out of 46 trucks competing in the race will be powered by FPT engines, confirming the Brand as the preferred power solution at the Dakar Rally.
The de Rooy FPT crews will take on the world’s toughest rally aboard an IVECO Powerstar powered by the CURSOR 13, FPT’s iconic engine and the ultimate ally for an extreme challenge like the Dakar Rally. With proven reliability, class-leading power, and lightning-fast responsiveness, the CURSOR 13 delivers the performance needed to conquer dunes, high-speed off-road tracks, and the harshest conditions, making it the strategic choice for those aiming to push every limit on the race.
The de Rooy FPT teams can rely on even higher performance trucks, thanks to a series of upgrades designed to further enhance performance, reliability, and control in the most demanding conditions. The improvements support superior handling, enhanced driver comfort, and full control across all terrain types and challenging climates, reinforcing the trucks’ readiness for extreme competition environments.
Alongside these performance advancements, the trucks are debuting a renewed look and feel, featuring a new livery where the FPT logo stands out proudly and prominently on the engine grille. This bold visual identity goes hand in hand with ongoing product innovation, underscoring the strong link between FPT’s motorsport presence and its continuous technological development.
This year, the crews chose the Moroccan desert to put the vehicle to the test under extreme conditions, including sand, variable terrain, and temperature swings. It served as a crucial proving ground to evaluate the vehicle’s performance, thermal resilience, dynamic response, and fuel consumption in real-world conditions, while also strengthening the cohesion of both the on-board crew and the technical support team. These sessions also allowed the team to refine strategy and operations, key elements in preparation for the challenge that awaits them at Dakar 2026.
To experience the excitement of the test in the Moroccan desert, watch the video.
FPT and Dakar represent a historic duo
: through this partnership, the brand reinforces its commitment to innovation and its ability to transfer the expertise gained in the most extreme environments to solutions for customers worldwide. Being the Technical Partner of the de Rooy FPT teams allows FPT to put its engineering skills to the test in the world’s most iconic rally raid, strengthening the company’s role as a technological benchmark in extreme conditions, and reaffirming the passion for innovation that has always defined its engines.
Perfectly aligned with FPT’s new tagline, “Power You Trust,” trust is a fundamental pillar of the relationship between FPT and the de Rooy FPT Team. In a challenge as extreme as the Dakar Rally, trust means knowing that every component will perform flawlessly when it matters most, and that the technology powering the truck can be relied upon in any condition. Built through years of collaboration, shared experience, and proven results on the toughest terrain, this trust enables drivers, crews, and engineers to push their limits with confidence, fully focused on performance, strategy, and the road ahead.
Behind the scenes, FPT Customer Service stands as a driving force, ensuring trucks deliver an outstanding 99% uptime, no matter how extreme the conditions get. The same high-performance solutions and products it provides to customers every day power unwavering reliability throughout the rally, boosted by FPT’s connected solutions, premium fluids, and genuine spare parts.
Each truck is equipped with a dedicated telematics kit that delivers continuous support, allowing the driver to stay fully focused on the race, confident that the engine is constantly monitored and performing at its best. Relying on experience from over 400,000 connected engines, the remote Control Room team in Turin analyzes key data collected during each stage, in full compliance with race rules prohibiting live data transmission.
At the end of the day, the gathered information – primarily focused on engine operating temperatures – is translated into targeted insights that help fine-tune the truck, ensuring it is optimally prepared for the challenges of the next stage.
CURSOR 13 for IVECO Powerstar (Dakar 2026) – Technical specifications
No. of cylinders / valves: 6 L / 4
Turbocharger: Twin Scroll
Displacement [liters]: 12.88
Bore x stroke [mm]: 135 x 150
Maximum Rated Power [HP]: 1,000
Maximum Torque [Nm]: 5,000
Dry Weight [kg]: 1,150
