– Guillaume De Mévius & Mathieu Baumel – Making the impossible possible
– Maria Gameiro & Rosa Romero – ‘Ultimate’ women power
– Lionel Baud & Lucie Baud – One Cockpit. One Family. One Goal.
Sustainable and diverse
With a compact yet powerful line-up, X-raid is ready to take on the Rally Dakar 2026.
The driver line-up consists of 50 percent women – a strong statement for the growing presence and performance of female athletes in international off-road racing. Leading the team are Guillaume de Mévius and Mathieu Baumel in the MINI JCW Rally 3.0i. For the French co-driver, this marks the realization of a major goal: taking part in the toughest rally in the world despite his prosthetic leg. Also not to be underestimated are the two MINI JCW Rally 3.0d crews: father-daughter duo Lionel and Lucie Baud, and the all-female pairing Maria Gameiro and Rosa Romero. Both impressed last season with remarkable consistency, regularly securing top results.
Dream Team in the Petrol-Powered MINI – The fight back to the top
The rally-raid world was shaken when news broke of Mathieu Baumel’s serious accident and the loss of his right leg. But the Frenchman never gave up. His goal: to compete in Dakar 2026. There’s probably no better way to describe this team’s spirit than with the words ‘No Limits.’ Many believed Baumel’s return to top-level motorsport was impossible, but he fought his way back: months of rehabilitation, training, and adapting to a new prosthesis – all with one aim: to return to the cockpit and to the desert. De Mévius stood by his navigator from the very beginning. While Baumel recovered, he raced a few events with Xavier Panseri, but Baumel rejoined him for the Baja Sharish, marking an emotional comeback that showcased passion and determination. For the pair, simply taking part is not enough – their goal is to fight for a Top 3 finish.
Consistency in the diesel desert racer
A podium finish might not be the primary target for Lionel and Lucie Baud, but a Top 15 result is certainly within reach. They’ve proven that family teamwork and professional preparation can go hand in hand. Step by step, the duo has worked its way into the top ranks of cross-country rallying, demonstrating impressive consistency throughout the 2025 season. Highlights included victory at the Morocco Desert Challenge and a ninth-place finish at the highly competitive Baja Aragón. With these results, they’ve made it clear: Dakar 2026 won’t be a family outing – it’s a determined push toward a Top 20 finish.
Maria Gameiro competed in the X-raid Fenic SxS at the Dakar 2025, but in the following season she shifted her focus to the MINI JCW Rally 3.0d. She used the Morocco Desert Challenge and the Baja Morocco to further refine her driving skills in sand and dunes. At the same time, she completed an intensive testing program to prepare as best as possible for Dakar 2026. Since the Morocco Desert Challenge, Rosa Romero has taken on navigation duties. Through a busy race and testing schedule, their teamwork, technique, and navigation have continued to improve. The two will take on Dakar 2026 with a perfect mix of fresh energy, extensive experience, and a strong dose of female intuition.
Lionel and Lucie Baud will compete at the Qatar International Baja ahead of Dakar 2026. Maria Gameiro and Rosa Romero will take part in the Dubai International Baja. Meanwhile, preparations for the Dakar Rally are in full swing at X-raid headquarters in Trebur. At the end of November, the service vehicles will be transported to Barcelona and shipped from there to Saudi Arabia.
X-raid MINI JCW Rally – Performance Meets Sustainability
For X-raid, Dakar 2026 is not only a sporting challenge but also a technological mission – fielding an innovative, sustainable, and high-performance vehicle at the front of the pack. With the newly developed MINI JCW Rally 3.0i, De Mévius and Baumel are aiming for the podium with cutting-edge innovation and top performance.
At the same time, Lionel and Lucie Baud, as well as Maria Gameiro and Rosa Romero, demonstrate how future technology, performance, and sustainability go hand in hand. Their MINI JCW Rally 3.0d, powered by HVO100 fuel from sustainable sources, significantly reduces CO₂ emissions without compromising reliability or speed. X-raid continues to take responsibility and lead by example – showing what sustainable rally racing can look like.
Statements
Guillaume de Mévius (MINI JCW Rally 3.0i): « I’m super happy to continue working with X-raid. It wasn’t an easy year for Mathieu and me – we didn’t reach our sporting goals for 2025 and had to overcome several challenges. That’s why I’m even happier that we can now focus fully on 2026. We’re ready to fight for top positions at Dakar. »
Mathieu Baumel (MINI JCW Rally 3.0i): « The doctor told me after my accident that it would be too optimistic to be at the start of Dakar 2026. What an achievement to finally make it! I’m very happy to share this moment with Guillaume and the X-raid team. We still have some work to do to adapt the car’s setup to my prosthetic – especially for situations like changing a punctured tire. But everyone is giving their best to make me as comfortable as possible. My goal now is to become the first amputee to win a Dakar stage – and, of course, to fight for the overall victory. But just being at the start already feels like a small victory. »
Maria Gameiro (MINI JCW Rally 3.0d): « I’m really happy to return to Dakar – but this time with different goals. For my second participation in what I consider the most important motorsport event in the world, I have two major changes: First, Rosa Romero will be my navigator. We’ve raced together before, worked hard, and I’m confident we make an excellent team! Second, we’ll compete in the Ultimate category with our MINI JCW Rally 3.0d – a huge step forward. All this happens within X-raid, a team with an impressive record that always competes to win. For all these reasons, I’m incredibly motivated to return to Saudi Arabia. Now two months of hard work lie ahead to make my dream come true! »
Lionel Baud (MINI JCW Rally 3.0d): « I’m also very happy to take on the Dakar 2026 together with Lucie. This season, we worked hard with X-raid to prepare ourselves as best as possible for this demanding rally. Lucie’s navigation skills have improved tremendously, and we’ve been able to fine-tune the MINI JCW Rally 3.0d more and more to our needs. Of course, the fun of rally driving should not be forgotten for either of us. The Dakar is a long race, and we’re both very consistent. Our goal is to achieve a better result than at the previous Dakar. »
Stefanie Szlapka,