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• Oriol Mena is a former motorbike star who has established himself in recent years as one of the best co-drivers in the SSV and Challenger categories.
• The 37-year-old Spaniard began his career in enduro, winning the FIM Junior World Championship in 2009. He has also won several titles in Spain and excelled as a member of the Spanish team at the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE).
• He turned his attention to rally-raiding in 2017, joining the Hero MotoSports team ahead of the 2018 Dakar Rally. Despite his inexperience, he finished 7th in the general classification and won the title of best rookie. He scored another top 10 finish in 2019.
• A serious accident before the 2019 Morocco Rally changed the course of his career. Despite suffering nine broken ribs, two punctured lungs, and two fractured collarbones, he would still have been able to compete in the 2020 Dakar Rally had he not had another accident two weeks before the start of the most famous of all rally raids.
• After competing in the 2021 Dakar Rally as a privateer with Rieju/FN Speed, Oriol agreed to join his compatriot Gerard Farres in an SSV for the 2022 Dakar Rally. But after doing an excellent job with Rokas Baciuska in the Morocco Rally, he ultimately teamed with the Lithuanian, with whom he claimed a podium finish.
• In 2023, Oriol helped Polish driver Eryk Goczal become the youngest winner of the Dakar Rally. Poised to win again the following year, they were disqualified on the rest day due to a carbon clutch disc that did not comply with FIA regulations.
• In the last Dakar Rally, the Spaniard finally reunited with Baciuska, but this time in an Ultimate vehicle, a Hilux that the duo finished in 11th place overall.
• Another seat change for Mena's 8th Dakar: he will be alongside Guy Botterill, hoping to take his driver to the next level. The two have had the opportunity to get to know each other better in the South African championship.