The Slovak NORWIT Racing Team crew achieved an excellent result in the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship series, finishing ninth overall in the Challenge category at the 2026 Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc.
The penultimate event of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship calendar—the week-long Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc—attracted a host of global motorsport stars alongside numerous competitors from around the world. Names such as Sébastien Loeb, Carlos Sainz, Nasser Al-Attiyah, and Stéphane Peterhansel significantly boosted the event’s profile. Lining up in the Challenge category was the sole Slovak crew representing NORWIT Racing Team—Martin Benko and Jiří Kalát—determined to test their skills against twenty-five other competing crews from across the globe. As previously reported during the event, Martin and Jiří established themselves among the top 10 fastest competitors in the Challenge category right from the start. They maintained this position throughout every stage, ultimately securing an impressive ninth-place overall finish in the Challenge category at the 2026 Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc. “It was really tough. The tracks were badly broken up, so we constantly had to be careful not to do anything stupid that might force us to end the race early. As for our Taurus T3 Max vehicle, it performed excellently—thanks in no small part to our mechanics; we did have to deal with a minor issue on the course during the penultimate stage involving an overheated connector, but we managed to fix it and carry on. I admit we really pushed our bodies to the limit and arrived at the bivouac completely exhausted on several occasions, but that’s all part of the sport. I am absolutely thrilled that we achieved such a fantastic result. The competition was incredibly strong, which makes this result even more gratifying. Naturally, I want to thank Jirka for his perfect navigation, the mechanics for their top-notch service work, our team partners for their support, and, of course, our families who share this journey with us,” Martin Benko said at the finish line.
Now, a well-deserved rest awaits the NORWIT Racing Team, followed by preparations for their next race. We will, of course, keep you updated on where and when that will be.