In 1984, then-graduate ​​Reinaldo Varela and two of his cousins thought that the tasty meals served on the family farm would be very successful if served in a restaurant. Securing the support of their parents and the person responsible for the food—their grandmother, known as Dona Iza—they opened their first colonial farm-themed restaurant. Now, more than 200 locations prepare Dona Iza’s recipes across Brazil.

At the same time, Reinaldo’s passion for racing counted more than 370 events over 37 years of competition. He’s won two world championships in cross country rally, for a career that adds up to one of the winningest in Brazil and South America. After being invited to drive a race-prepared Can-Am Commander in the Dakar, he vowed to go all the way and return with a Maverick X3, plus the preparation and support of South Racing Can-Am.

Just as SSVs became an official Dakar class, his efforts to compete at the front in the Maverick X3 started to pay off. He led the class most of the days, winning many stages and finished as the 2018 Dakar champion in the side-by-side segment. Last year’s win was also the first title for Can-Am at Dakar. 

Reinaldo starts this year’s race as a fan favorite to repeat his Dakar victory—and he’s just as hungry to win as ever.

Gerard Farrés was born in Manresa, Spain, on March 24, 1979, and spent his childhood in Olost de Lluçanès, a small town of only a thousand inhabitants in the heart of Catalonia. For practicing his off-road skills, it would be an idyllic spot: in the middle of nature, surrounded by forests and fields full of life. Through his first race at 14 in the Championship of Catalonia of Enduro for Children, his career soared after being selected to compete in World Enduro competition. There, he trained with and competed against some of the world’s best riders as part of the Real Federación Motociclista Española (RFME) team.

In addition to winning a World Championship in that category, they also managed to win the Six Days of Enduro (ISDE) three times with the RFME junior team: in Australia, Portugal and Grenada. But it was just the start: Gerard has competed in the Rally Dakar three times, with numerous top finishes in Baja Spain, Rally Merzouga, and other long-distance rallies.

He’s a newcomer to the world of 4-wheeled machines, but he’s as quick as you’d expect for someone used to standing at the top of the podium. This year’s Dakar will be his strongest challenge yet.

López began riding motorcycles at 4 years of age through the encouragement of his father Renato López, a national motocross champion. His nickname Chaleco comes from the Spanish for vest, particularly the vest used for race protection. He returned to the Dakar in 2019 to compete in the SxS category, winning 4 stages and achieving his first title.