Santana Racing Team
Cuando la carretrea acaba, Santana empieza
Santana motors un paso adelante
Our off-road spirit, born in Spain, now faces the most demanding environments on the planet
The meaning of racing
Off-road driving doesn’t exist without competition
Only there do engineering and character face reality. We don’t seek fame — we seek limits. Because the future belongs to those who dare to put everything to the test
Synergy of experience and courage
Santana Racing Team unites rally-raid veterans with proven championship credentials. Different backgrounds. One mission: to test limits and validate reliability where it matters most.
Edu Blanco
CEO & 17-time Dakar veteran
CEO of Santana Motors and a legend of the Dakar Rally with 17 participations as pilot, navigator, and team manager.
His experience spans decades of desert racing, bringing unmatched strategic insight and technical knowledge to every stage.
For Edu, Dakar is not just competition — it is the ultimate validation ground for engineering decisions.
Jesús Calleja
Adventurer & experienced pilot
Renowned adventurer and experienced pilot for whom Dakar 2026 marks his sixth challenge in the world's toughest rally.
Jesús brings a unique perspective — combining exploration expertise with competitive racing, proving that Santana vehicles perform where boundaries don't exist.
Mónica Plaza
Pilot
Over 4 Dakar participations. In 2023, she became the first female Spanish champion in the T1N category.
Her approach combines technical precision with fearless determination.
Marta Plaza
Navigator
Successfully completed her debut Dakar in 2024 with the best result in the family's history.
Her navigation skills and strategic thinking make the crew complete.
Together, they hold the Gold Medal for Sports Merit (2024) and represent a level of professionalism that goes beyond gender — it's about competence, coordination, and consistent performance under extreme pressure.
Nacho Santamaría
Technical Director
Off-road competition specialist with extensive experience in technical development and optimization in extreme environments. Leads vehicle performance and race strategy.
Valentín Rouss
Team Manager
Responsible for the team’s overall strategy and brand positioning within the competitive environment. Coordinates operations, partners, and the competitive structure with a growth-oriented vision.
Antonio Molina
Institutional & Strategic Lead
Drives the team’s institutional development and strategic partnerships, connecting industry, partners, and the racing project. Brings business vision and technical expertise to ensure solid and sustainable growth.
BUILT FOR REAL TESTS
Vehicles on a mission
We don't just race prototypes.
We test the same vehicles available to our customers — because real validation happens in real conditions.
Santana Pickup T1+
Much more than a prototype.
It's the result of decades of experience in utility and 4x4 vehicles taken to the extreme of competition. Designed to endure the desert, break barriers, and write the next page of our story.
Technical foundation:
Based on the proven Century CR7 platform (Ultimate category), equipped with a V6 biturbo 2.9L engine delivering 430 hp and 660 Nm of torque.
Carbon fiber body, advanced AI-enhanced navigation systems, and engineering solutions that will define future Santana production models.
It's the result of decades of experience in utility and 4x4 vehicles taken to the extreme of competition. Designed to endure the desert, break barriers, and write the next page of our story.
Technical foundation:
Based on the proven Century CR7 platform (Ultimate category), equipped with a V6 biturbo 2.9L engine delivering 430 hp and 660 Nm of torque.
Carbon fiber body, advanced AI-enhanced navigation systems, and engineering solutions that will define future Santana production models.
These are not show vehicles.
They are our assistance crew's workhorses — the same models available to customers, proving their reliability stage after stage.
SANTANA 400 D
Diesel power configured for logistics and assistance operations.
Running alongside the racing crew in Dakar heat and sand, this vehicle validates durability claims in real-world extreme conditions — not in controlled laboratory tests.
Every kilometer covered is proof of engineering integrity.
SANTANA 400 PHEV S
Hybrid technology tested beyond the laboratory.
Balancing efficiency, autonomy, and durability under conditions most manufacturers would never subject their production vehicles to.
This is how we verify that our hybrid systems work when it matters — not just when it's convenient.
Santana motors un paso adelante
Nuestro espíritu todoterreno, nacido en España, ahora se enfrenta a los entornos más exigentes del planeta.
Sinergia de experiencia y coraje
El equipo Santana Racing Team reúne a veteranos del rally-raid con un historial de campeonatos comprobado. Diferentes trayectorias. Una sola misión: poner a prueba los límites y demostrar la fiabilidad donde más importa.
Edu Blanco
Director ejecutivo y veterano de 17 Dakar
Director ejecutivo de Santana Motors y leyenda del Rally Dakar, con 17 participaciones como piloto, copiloto y jefe de equipo. Su experiencia abarca décadas de carreras en el desierto, aportando una visión estratégica y un conocimiento técnico inigualables a cada etapa. Para Edu, el Dakar no es solo una competición: es la prueba definitiva para validar las decisiones de ingeniería.
Jesús Calleja
Aventurero y experimentado piloto
Reconocido aventurero y experimentado piloto, para quien el Dakar 2026 representa su sexto desafío en el rally más duro del mundo. Jesús aporta una perspectiva única: combina su experiencia en exploración con la competición, demostrando que los vehículos Santana rinden al máximo donde no existen límites.
Mónica Plaza
Piloto
Más de cuatro participaciones en el Dakar. En 2023, se convirtió en la primera campeona española en la categoría T1N. Su estilo combina precisión técnica con una determinación inquebrantable.
Marta Plaza
Navegadora
Completó con éxito su debut en el Dakar 2024, logrando el mejor resultado en la historia de la familia. Sus habilidades de navegación y su pensamiento estratégico hacen que la tripulación sea completa. Juntos, ostentan la Medalla de Oro al Mérito Deportivo (2024) y representan un nivel de profesionalismo que trasciende el género: se trata de competencia, coordinación y un rendimiento constante bajo una presión extrema.
Nacho Santamaría
Director Técnico
Especialista en competición todoterreno con amplia experiencia en desarrollo técnico y optimización en entornos extremos. Lidera el rendimiento del vehículo y la estrategia de carrera.
Valentín Rouss
Gerente de equipo
Responsable de la estrategia general del equipo y del posicionamiento de la marca en el entorno competitivo. Coordina las operaciones, los socios y la estructura competitiva con una visión orientada al crecimiento.
Antonio Molina
Líder institucional y estratégico
Impulsa el desarrollo institucional del equipo y las alianzas estratégicas, conectando a la industria, los socios y el proyecto de carreras. Aporta visión empresarial y experiencia técnica para garantizar un crecimiento sólido y sostenible.