Mark Mateschitz is set to start the Dakar Rally under a pseudonym

The Dakar Rally will apparently take place in Saudi Arabia from January 3, 2026 with prominent Austrian participants. As the Small newspaper reported on Tuesday, will become a Red Bull billionaire Mark Mateschitz under the pseudonym “Mark Mustermann” Driving a Toyota in the top class T1. His partner Victoria Swarovski therefore starts in the Challenger class. The Tyrolean motorcyclist is taking part for the third time Tobias Ebster.

In fact, a Mark Mustermann from Austria appears in the official start lists, his co-driver in the 400 hp Toyota Hilux is Michael Zajc. Swarovski’s name is loud Small newspaper “Vic Flip”, the German Stefan Henken, acts as her passenger in the Can-Am Maverick R – a buggy with around 240 hp. There was a statement from Red Bull about this WHAT no confirmation.

The prominent duo must have been planning the desert adventure for a long time. “Mateschitz and Swarovski have prepared for this in a highly professional manner and have been taking part in long-distance off-road rallies for two years, largely unnoticed by cameras. Most recently, the duo completed the Rally du Maroc in October as a dress rehearsal,” wrote the Small newspaper.

Mateschitz against Loeb and Sainz

The rally lasts two weeks and covers 8,000 kilometers and 13 stages from Yanbu on the Red Sea to Riyadh and back. In the T1 class, Mateschitz meets top-class drivers like Carlos Sainz senior or Sebastien Loeb.

A big challenge also awaits Ebster, who, after two attempts as a privateer, is taking part in the action as a works driver for the first time. In 2025 he was ninth overall in motorcycles and second in the Rally2 class. He starts with number 96 – for the Indian team “Hero Motosports Team Rally”. In 2024 he was 20th, but also winner in the Mallo Moto and Rookie classifications.

The omens are for the nephew of the motorcycle legend Heinz Kinigadner Not bad, since the 28-year-old, who has been 28 since December 9th, secured the runner-up world championship title in the Rally2 category in Morocco in mid-October in his first season as a works driver. He also wants to cause a sensation again at the Dakar. “My goal at the Dakar is to be able to keep up with the best in the world in the rally raid and to give something back to the team with strong results,” said Ebster.