A 1,500km race through the Sahara desert with a Can-Am Maverick is not the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Polish manufacturer Samasz, but vice president Maciej Stolarski, is also a rally driver and the capable pilot secured third place in the SSV class in the Fenix rally.
Driving on the dunes was a new experience for the Samasz vice president, but 20 years of motorsport experience as an enduro, rally and off-road driver, certainly helped. Assisted by navigator Bartłomiej Dzienis, over 200 competitors and 46 rival teams took part in this year’s seven-day race, which ended last weekend. The two men regularly compete in Polish cross-country rally championships, but this was the first time they entered for the Fenix rally.
Third place on the podium was a major achievement, as was to complete the rally with no crash or breakdown, but the icing on the cake for the Samasz team was winning the last stage of the rally.
Racing through the Sahara was a completely different experience, but Mr Stolarski concedes that some things were the same. “The organisation and preparation of the team for the competition is similar to the organisation of our company,” he says. “Quality control of the car, spare parts, tests and logistics are just as important as they are to be successful in the agricultural machinery industry.”
