Dakar champion for the first time on asphalt: Macík will compete with the European truck racing elite in Most

This year's Czech Truck Prix 2025 (August 28-31) promises a motorsport weekend at the end of the holidays that Most has never experienced before. At the start of the European Circuit Truck Championship, two-time Dakar winner Martin Macík will be among the European elite for the first time - this time not in a desert special, but behind the wheel of a racing Iveco from the German Hahn Racing team.
For Czech fans, this means a unique opportunity to see the Dakar champion in his premiere on asphalt, against the best truck drivers in Europe. But the motoring festival does not end only with trucks - the NASCAR Euro Series will also return to the Most circuit with Czech ace Martin Doubek, a two-time EuroNASCAR 2 category champion, and fans can also look forward to accompanying historical races, autograph sessions, children's zones and an atmosphere that they will not experience anywhere else. We asked Martin how he is preparing for his premiere on the Most asphalt and what fans can expect from his participation.

What were your first impressions when you first sat behind the wheel of a circuit truck?
How different it is, but to a certain extent the same. It's still a truck. The cabin is completely different, so I mainly had to get my bearings. As for the driving itself, I already drove a circuit truck last year in Most, so there weren't that many surprises there. The difference is, for example, in the overload, which is really felt on the circuit, while in the terrain we are more concerned with bumps.

How is your preparation for the Czech Truck Prix going – what is the biggest difference compared to training for the Dakar?
The preparation for the Dakar is very physical. In addition to training in the gym, there are also training rides directly in the truck, which I organize regularly with fans. This is different. I still have to stay in shape, but it's a lot about studying - how to take the corners as efficiently as possible, how to behave in wheel-to-wheel battles and more. These are things that you don't use as much in the field, there's no one around you, sometimes you meet one or two cars and you're more concerned with how to get over a dune or other obstacle.

You will be racing with Lucas Hahn's truck on the Most circuit - what is the most difficult thing for you about controlling it?
I have a crew in my truck with whom we have clearly divided roles. I'm on my own here, so it took a while to figure out where everything was, like the brake cooling.

Your participation also includes a special program for fans in the #DyckyDakar community - what specifically can they look forward to?
We invite everyone who buys either an MM FAN PASS or an MM VIP PASS to join this WhatsApp community. It's something I really enjoy doing because I care about direct contact with fans. Together with my team, we publish content there that they can't find anywhere else, such as preparation videos, voice memos, answers to questions. I'm quite active there. The content will also increase during the race itself, when fans can communicate directly with us regarding organizational matters and also get access to other behind-the-scenes content.

Is there anything you want to transfer from the Dakar approach to the Most asphalt?
I'm quite stubborn and persistent, so when I go after something, I want to achieve it. And that will be the same both in Dakar and on the circuit. And just like in our races, teamwork is important here. Even though there's no one in the cockpit with me, the whole team needs to work together to make everything work.

Did you set a goal for the Most race?
Finish! (laughs) No, I'm trying to prepare honestly and it's still a truck, so I know what I'm doing. I want to take as many chances as possible to get ahead, realistically I want to fight for the top ten. We'll see how the reverse grid mixes with that.

Czech Truck Prix & NASCAR: End of the holidays invigorated by motorsport

In addition to the exciting duels of Martin Macík with the European truck top and the return of Martin Doubek and the NASCAR Euro Series, fans can also expect attractive races of historical racing icons - up to 47 machines will gather on the Super Sixties grid , from Shelby Mustangs GT350s to Ford GT40s to Lotus Elans and Porsche 904s and more. The second supplementary series, Triumph Competition & British GT, will bring the atmosphere of British racing to the track.

Fans can also look forward to the traditional Thursday spectacular ride, which will bring racing specials directly to the center of Most, and on Friday visitors will be able to try running on the race track for free. There will also be TruckFest, an exhibition of American cars, but also attractions on the spectator slope, which will be free as part of the ticket. "We want the Czech Truck Prix to be enjoyed not only by die-hard motorsport fans, but also by entire families. It is a weekend when Most becomes an international center of motorsport, and at the same time a place where people meet, have fun and leave with wonderful experiences. I look forward to meeting you at the Autodrom at the end of August," invites the spectators Josef Zajíček, general director of the Autodrom Most and a member of the organizing association AMK Most.