Castrol to support MM Technology’s multi-truck Dakar campaign

• Rally raid team will use Castrol engine oils, transmission fluids, greases and other products designed to help optimise performance and reduce downtime across the fleet 

• Regular oil checks to take place throughout the rally; samples to be analysed after the race by Castrol’s R&D team to inform future lubricant development 

• Dakar 2026 programme underscores Castrol’s commitment to developing lubricants and greases for over 125 years 

Castrol is to supply a full portfolio of advanced fluids and lubricants to MM Technology to support one of the largest ever truck rallying programmes at the iconic Dakar Rally. 

MM Technology will field – directly or via customer teams – nine MM Technology EVO rally raid trucks at Dakar 2026, along with a further 10 support vehicles that will provide back-up to MM Technology’s factory team. Many of these vehicles will rely on Castrol engine oils, greases, brake fluids, coolants, transmission fluids and differential oils to maintain performance and reliability as they take on some of the most extreme conditions in world motorsport.    

The Dakar programme builds on a successful technical partnership between Castrol and MM Technology in the international rally raid series, most recently securing victory in the 2025 Rallye du Maroc. 

Rally trucks to push Castrol products to the limit 

Under the agreement, Castrol will supply Castrol VECTON Special 10W-60, a racing-grade engine oil that will help to protect the MM Technology factory team’s EVO4 racer. The engine’s internal temperatures can regularly reach as high as 120°C. Just one engine oil change is planned to take place during the entire event.  

To help MM Technology’s EVO4 truck deliver quick-fire and reliable gear changes throughout the rally, Castrol will supply the company with TRANSMAX 75W-140 transmission fluid and TranSynd ATF. The Allison transmission used in the MM EVO4 can reach temperatures of up to 130°C. 

To support MM Technology’s fleet of service and logistics vehicles, which includes four trucks with three trailers, three camper vans, and three media passenger cars, Castrol will also supply additional products. Castrol VECTON Long Drain 10W-40 E7 commercial vehicle engine oil is designed to help extend the durability of the trucks and provide continuous operational support. 

Passenger-car support vehicles, which play a vital role in the broader service ecosystem, will run on Castrol EDGE 5W-30 LL and Castrol MAGNATEC 10W-40 A/B, formulated for protection and stable performance.  

Analysis will guide Castrol’s future truck product development 

Beyond the primary supply and sponsorship agreement, the partnership between Castrol and MM Technology will see regular oil checks take place throughout the rally; samples of which will be later analysed by Castrol’s R&D team located in Pangbourne, UK. This monitoring process will help identify signs of wear and thermal stress or contamination after the rally, while also informing future innovation across Castrol’s commercial-vehicle lubricant portfolio. 

Vincent Panel, Head of Product, Brand & Communications Europe at Castrol, said: “With MM Technology’s Dakar programme expanding year on year, this partnership underscores our shared commitment to engineering precision, resilience and technological advancement. By combining MM Technology’s racing innovation with Castrol’s fluid-performance leadership, we aim to set new benchmarks in durability and competitive performance at one of the world’s toughest rallies.” 

Martin Macik Sr., Head of MM Technology, said: “Dakar exposes every weakness in a vehicle. You are dealing with extreme dust, shock and heat – up to 800°C for the brakes – across thousands of kilometres of unforgiving desert. To run nine trucks at this level, every component needs to operate in harmony, and lubrication and thermal management are absolutely critical. Castrol brings world-class expertise and proven high-performance products that allow us to push harder, knowing we are protected where it matters most.” 

While Castrol’s products are not specifically designed for rally-raid events, the company’s involvement means that trucks will benefit from scientifically engineered protection designed to withstand the extreme mechanical demands of the desert. Castrol fluids have already been depended upon in the Dakar Rally and other top-tier rally raid events. The company partnered with Netherlands-based Firemen Dakarteam in 2025 and supplied lubricants for its entries in the Dakar and Baja España Aragón rallies.  

As Dakar 2026 continues, Castrol and MM Technology are poised to deliver a standout performance in what promises to be the team’s most challenging and high-profile campaign yet.