“Just get to the finish!” – for Nani Roma, for a long time that was his motto in the Dakar Rally. Between 1997 and 2003, six times he started out in the toughest rally in the world, and six times he failed to finish. Each time at the start, things initially looked good for the Spaniard: he managed to win 10 stages, and on at least two occasions it appeared as though the rally would turn out in his favour. What he did manage to win, however, was the reputation of having eternal bad luck at Dakar and in turn, a mass following that kept increasingly more fingers crossed for him with each passing year. In 2004, with many fingers sore from faithfully rooting for him, Nani finally emerged victorious at Dakar. And so as not to challenge his luck even more, he then switched over from two- to four-wheel vehicles. And, as it turns out, quite successfully: With his Mitsubishi Pajero, at Dakar 2006 Nani drove his way to sixth place – and then, after only nine months with his additional two wheels, in the Baja Spain Aragon he won his first car rally ever!

Date of Birth: 17 February 1972

Nationality: Spanish

Residence: Folgueroles, Spain

Sports: Enduro Championships and Rally Car

Highlights: 2004 Dakar 1st place, 2003 Egypt Rally 1st place, 2004 Sardinia Rally 1st place, 2002 Tunisia Rally 1st place, 1997 Spanish Enduro Champion
Flo Hagena