- Rachele Somaschini, Serena Rodella and Monica Buonamano will tackle the 2026 Dakar Classic in Saudi Arabia aboard a 4×4 truck lubricated with Castrol VECTON
- The partnership, established through Galardo Srl, authorised Castrol distributor, promotes a motorsport culture rooted in talent, commitment and passion
Castrol, a global leader in high-performance lubricants, in collaboration with Galardo Srl – its authorised distributor based in Battipaglia (SA) – announces the sponsorship of the Ladies Dakar team, the first all-female Italian crew competing with a heavy-duty vehicle in the Dakar Classic 2026 in Saudi Arabia.
The team will compete on a Mercedes-Benz Unimog 4×4, prepared and managed during the race by Tecnosport Rally of Como.
This initiative supports an increasingly inclusive motorsport culture based on talent, passion and teamwork. For Ladies Dakar, racing in Saudi Arabia represents a dual challenge: excelling in one of the most demanding motorsport competitions while also conveying a message of female determination in a context where full recognition of women’s roles remains an achievement yet to be secured.
CASTROL VECTON: TECHNOLOGY PROVEN IN EXTREME CONDITIONS
The Ladies Dakar team’s Mercedes-Benz Unimog 4×4 will use Castrol VECTON, the new range of high-performance, low-viscosity engine oils for heavy-duty vehicles. Designed to balance fuel efficiency and engine protection, Castrol VECTON combats oil degradation through multiple actions: neutralising harmful acids, controlling oxidation, reducing deposits, and protecting against loss of viscosity caused by thermal and mechanical stress. With up to 45%* Extra Performance Reserve (EPR), it ensures extended oil life and longer drain intervals**, even in the toughest conditions.
As with other motorsport teams it supports, Castrol will use this partnership to test and further develop its lubricants in highly demanding race environments. Castrol VECTON products will face extreme stress situations: desert temperatures, sand, constant vibrations and maximum performance over 14 days of racing. After the competition, the lubricants will undergo detailed technical analysis to evaluate performance and optimise future formulations.
THE LADIES DAKAR CREW
At the wheel is Rachele Somaschini, four-time Italian Women’s Rally Champion (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) and Overall Champion of the 2024 Tour European Rally. FIA Women in Motorsport Ambassador, she founded the #CorrerePerUnRespiro initiative in 2016 to support cystic fibrosis research, raising over €520,000 for the Italian Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation. In 2023, the project and her personal experience with the disease became a charity autobiography, “Correre Per Un Respiro”, awarded the prestigious Geremia “CONI” Prize for passion and sports ethics. Once again, her starring role in the demanding Dakar Classic makes Rachele Somaschini a true symbol of resilience and determination for all women affected by this severe genetic disease.
Joining the crew as co-driver and onboard mechanic is Serena Rodella. With outstanding determination, Rodella – who has competed for years in the Italian Off-Road Speed Championship and other European competitions – will take on the Dakar Classic for the first time, bringing her technical expertise into one of the most extreme challenges in motorsport.
Alongside them in the key role of navigator is Monica Buonamano, who brings more than 25 years of experience in Cross Country and Rally competitions. A veteran of previous Dakar Classic editions, in which she competed with 4×4 vehicles and trucks and distinguished herself in several special stages, her navigation and orientation expertise will be essential to guide the crew through the desert.
“We are proud to support the Ladies Dakar team — a remarkable example of expertise, determination and passion that pushes the boundaries of motorsport. It is a real privilege for us to stand beside them with our lubricants,” says Davide Busnelli, Sales Manager Automotive Italy at Castrol. “The Dakar is the ideal testing ground for our products: the data collected during the competition will be crucial in developing future Castrol formulations. A special thanks goes to Galardo Srl for its decisive role in this partnership and for its long-standing collaboration in the Commercial Vehicle Oil segment.”
“We are truly honoured to partner with Castrol as the official partner of the Ladies Dakar team,” adds Antonio Galardo, CEO of Galardo Srl. “This agreement marks an important milestone in our growth path and renews our commitment to pursuing quality, innovation and progress — values we share with a top-tier brand like Castrol. More than a sponsorship, this collaboration stands as tangible recognition of women’s talent and determination in motorsport, a field that has always rewarded courage, passion and expertise at the highest level.”
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Notes to editors:
*Compared with conventional 15W-40 in laboratory engine tests
**EPR represents an average where the product exceeds API and ACEA industry limits and is based on tests carried out on 81% of Castrol VECTON by volume, using 12-month sales data as of March 2017.
