FPT Industrial engines dominate at Dakar 2025

Securing 9 out of 10 positions

FPT Industrial has proven its dominance in the world’s toughest motorsport challenge: the Dakar Rally. The 47th edition in January 2025 in Saudi Arabia saw the company’s engines power Iveco vehicles to phenomenal success.

The rally, one of the most gruelling events on the planet, witnessed FPT Industrial-powered trucks sweep the podium and secure nine out of the top ten positions in the final standings.

As the Exclusive Technical Partner to the de Rooy FPT teams, FPT Industrial provided technical expertise and cutting-edge engines that helped the teams achieve incredible results.

The rally saw Aleš Loprais, Vaidotas Žala, and Anja Van Loon finishing in the top ten. Loprais, representing InstaTrade Loprais Team de Rooy FPT, earned an impressive third place, driving the Iveco Powerstar model 2024/2025 equipped with FPT Industrial’s CURSOR 13 engine. This engine, designed to withstand extreme conditions, delivered the power, efficiency, reliability, and sustainability needed to take on Dakar’s brutal terrain.

Vaidotas Žala, a new entry with the Skuba Team de Rooy FPT and Anja Van Loon from the Fried Van de Laar Racing Team de Rooy FPT also showed outstanding performances. Žala secured five podium finishes across the twelve stages, finishing in fifth place overall. Van Loon, who had impressed in her 2024 debut, recorded a remarkable fourth-place finish in one stage, finishing eighth in the overall standings. These results marked their best-ever finishes in the rally, cementing their place among the elite drivers of the Dakar.

The 2025 edition of the Dakar Rally was incredibly challenging, with organisers describing it as one of the toughest in history. The route spanned 8,000km from Bisha to Shubaytah and included over 5,000km of special stages. Aleš Loprais finished in the top three for eight stages and claimed victory in five. This exceptional achievement highlighted the reliability and high-performance capabilities of the Cursor 13 engine, which never faltered throughout the rally.

Loprais reflected on the experience: “As always, the Dakar presents numerous challenges – from the obstacles encountered dune after dune to the endurance tests each stage brings. Every year, there are new lessons and surprises. Having an FPT Industrial engine as our partner in these extreme conditions is invaluable.”

The Dakar 2025 standings saw the following results for the de Rooy FPT teams:

• 3rd Place: #601 InstaTrade Loprais Team de Rooy FPT
  Driver: Aleš Loprais
  Navigator: David Kripal
  Mechanic: Darek Rodewald
• 5th Place: #605 Skuba Team de Rooy FPT
  Driver: Vaidotas Žala
  Navigator: Paulo Fiuza
  Mechanic: Max Van Grol
• 8th Place: #613 Fried Van de Laar Racing Team de Rooy FPT
  Driver: Anja Van Loon
  Navigator: Ben Van de Laar
  Mechanic: Jan Van de Laar

The rally’s demanding terrain truly tested the capabilities of FPT Industrial’s Cursor 13 engine. Known for its exceptional power, the Cursor 13 engine produces up to 1,000 horsepower and 5,000 Nm of torque, making it ideally suited for the heavy-duty demands of Dakar. The engine’s low fuel consumption, long oil change intervals, and patented HI-eSCR technology, which ensures a low Total Cost of Ownership, were crucial factors in maintaining peak performance throughout the rally.

Cursor 13 Engine Specifications:

• Engine Type: 6L, 4-valve
• Turbocharger: Twin Scroll
• Displacement: 12.88 litres
• Bore x Stroke: 135 x 150 mm
• Maximum Power: 1,000 hp
• Maximum Torque: 5,000 Nm
• Dry Weight: 1,150 kg

The impressive performance of FPT Industrial engines at Dakar 2025 reinforces the company’s reputation for innovation and excellence in high-performance engine technology. With a relentless focus on sustainability, efficiency, and durability, FPT Industrial continues to set the standard in powering vehicles capable of conquering the most demanding environments.

Image: The 2025 edition of the Dakar Rally was incredibly challenging, with organisers describing it as one of the toughest in history. Credit: FPT Industrial

Last Updated on 1 week by Arnold Pinto