Mateschitz and celebrity partner Victoria Swarovski will tackle the Dakar in January after taking part in several rallies over the last two years
Red Bull co-owner Mark Mateschitz and his celebrity partner Victoria Swarovski will contest the 2026 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia next month.
In the shadow of rally legends Carlos Sainz Sr, Sebastien Loeb, and Nasser Al-Attiyah, another pair of well-known names will face the challenge at the 48th edition of Dakar, which will run from 3-17 January.
TV host Swarovski revealed in an RTL interview this summer that she was preparing for a start at the Dakar Rally. Since then, the topic largely disappeared from the media spotlight.
Now, Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung has revealed that Swarovski will indeed compete in the world's most popular cross-country rally, with Mateschitz, who tends to avoid public attention, also taking on the challenge.
Their real names, however, do not appear on the official entry list — instead, they are registered under pseudonyms. Mateschitz is listed as 'Mark Mustermann' and Swarovski as 'Vic Flip.'
The birth dates entered for Mustermann and Flip match those of Mateschitz and Swarovski respectively. While the entry list does not include profile photos, pictures of the two Austrians appeared in the timing system of the Morocco Rally, which served as a preparatory event in October.
Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen used a similar tactic when he completed his first GT3 Ferrari test on the Nurburgring Nordschleife in May. To avoid attention, he was registered under the name 'Franz Hermann'.
Mateschitz and Swarovski — or rather Mustermann and Flip — will not share a vehicle during the Dakar, known as the toughest rally in the world. Instead, they will compete in different categories with separate cars.
Mateschitz, 33, will drive a Toyota Hilux in the T1+ class, which is considered the top 'Ultimate' category at the Dakar. The V6 turbo engine delivers up to 400 horsepower. His co-driver is fellow Austrian Michael Zajc.
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Preparations underway since 2024
Preparation for their Dakar adventure began back in 2024. Mateschitz and Zajc drove a Can-Am Maverick X3 in six Baja events. In 2025, they transitioned to the Toyota Hilux T1+, taking part in five more races.
After fifth-place finishes at the Baja Extremadura in Spain and the Baja Greece, they suffered retirements at the Baja Italy, the Rally Raid Portugal, and most recently at the Morocco Rally. For the Dakar, the 'Mustermann' will compete under start number 267.
Swarovski will race in the smaller Challenger class T3.1, driving a BRP Can-Am Maverick R. These side-by-side vehicles are part of an entry-level category with less power and a top speed limited to 135 km/h.
The Tyrolean native also began her off-road career in 2024, competing in several rallies with a Can-Am Maverick, including the Baja Portalegre 500 in Portugal and the Dubai International Baja. In 2025, she participated in three events, though success proved elusive.
At the Baja Italy, she finished 22nd under SuperRally rules. A DNF followed at the Portugal Rally, and at the Morocco Rally she was classified 75th overall, again under SuperRally regulations. Until now, Austrian Gerhard Schmiedberger has navigated for Swarovski.
At the Dakar, she will team up with German co-driver Stefan Henken, a seasoned competitor with multiple Dakar appearances to his name. Swarovski and Henken will start with car number 332.
Swarovski is a direct descendant of the founding family behind the Swarovski crystal empire, renowned worldwide for its luxury products. In Germany, she is best known as a host of various RTL shows, including 'Let’s Dance' and 'Das Supertalent.'
Mateschitz is the only son of the late Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz and heir to 49% of the Red Bull empire, making him Austria’s richest citizen. Swarovski and Mateschitz made their relationship public in 2023.
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Category: General Sports
