Tue 27 Feb '24
Crak Brewery
Panda Raid Guerrilla Style
On March 1st, it will be the debut day of our brand new Guerrilla Racing Team (Anthony Pravato and Andrea Alverdi) at the Panda Raid, an exciting adventure in the heart of the Sahara Desert. Our challenging task is to complete this 2000 km journey through the desert with an overloaded old Fiat Panda 4×4, in a Dakar rally reminiscent of the 1980s, using paper maps and only a compass for guidance.
Will we make it to the finish line?
We believe so, and we’ll fight until the last meter to successfully complete this adventure. We’ll keep you updated on every stage we face.
But what about the beer?
To celebrate our debut at the Panda Raid, we’ve created a new IPA in true Guerrilla style, heavily hopped with the favorite hops of our Guerrilla Racing Team: Amarillo, Nelson Sauvin e Mosaic.
When will it be available?
From Tuesday, February 27th, it will be available for takeaway at both our locations (TapRoom in Campodarsego and Casana in Padua), as well as in our online shop.
We can all enjoy it on tap together on Wednesday, February 28th, at TapRoom in Campodarsego and Casana in Padua, as well as in the best bars/Pubs in Italy that collaborate directly.
Crak
Finding a good condition old Panda to prepare for a raid was no easy task. Every failed attempt demoralized us. However, when we were about to give up, we almost accidentally discovered a Panda 4×4 that belonged to a farmer in Polverara, in the province of Padua. That purchase was not just a bargain: it marked the beginning of an even bigger challenge. The Panda, which the farmer had previously used in the fields, was transformed into our faithful travel companion.
Getting the Panda back in shape was tough, especially finding spare parts. After months of deadlock, we found a mechanic with a big heart in Turin, a former rally car preparer who now dedicates himself exclusively to preparing old Pandas, because doing so is his mission and the thing that gives him the most satisfaction. With his parts, his experience and the support of Andrea’s father, also a long-time mechanic specializing in Fiat and Lancia, Andrea managed to get the Panda back in shape, ready for the desert adventure, from which the “Panda Guerrilla” was born.
Before the Panda Raid, we wanted to test ourselves by participating in the Iberian Classic Raid, a 6-day off-road route starting from Valencia and ending in Lisbon. On the very first day, we encountered an engine failure that stopped us for 3 days, but despite the frustration we did not give up. Thanks to the remote help of our mechanics, we repaired the fault as soon as the part arrived from Italy and drove for 7 hours at night to reach the head of the competition so we were able to rejoin the group and complete the rest of the race, our first “Raid”.
Although we didn’t win, this experience gave us something bigger: The Guerrilla spirit, you should never give up! but try to the end!
Now we are ready for the Panda Raid in the Sahara desert. This is just the beginning of our logbook: more than the report of a race, it is the chronicle of an adventure that will begin on March 1st…
We are Anthony and Andrea, Drivers and navigators on alternate days of the Guerrilla Racing Team.
Panda Raid: Journal of the Guerrilla Racing Team
07.03.20224 – Stage 5
afraute Sidi Ali – Kerrandou
What a ride!
That’s how we can summarize the penultimate stage, a total of 340 km of dunes, dry lakes, savannah, and lots of rocks. Starting first, with the road all to ourselves and no tracks to follow, made navigation a real challenge. But Andrea’s skills as a navigator saved us, guiding us flawlessly until the timed trial where, unfortunately, we lost a signal and found ourselves surrounded by dunes. They were no more than three meters high, but they were enough to disorient us for a moment. And that moment was all it took to hit one from the wrong side where the wind wasn’t blowing and the dunes were steep, and take a spectacular flight with our Panda, landing heavily on the front end and causing significant damage to the front bumper and bending other parts.
Despite the blow, we managed to get going again (without losing too many positions) and, having started at dawn, we finished the stage quite early allowing us to have more time to repair some of the damage.
Now we are 1700 km from Malaga, where the car transporter awaits to take our Panda home. The “strange noises” of the Panda Guerrilla are increasing day by day, and today we head into the sixth and final stage. Unfortunately, without fifth gear, we will have to work even harder and fight even more. ✊
We made it to the top 100: 92nd place!
1. Lake & Savanna Starter: The stage kicks off with a dried-up lake, followed by some bumpy parallel tracks. Then things get wild with super fast tracks that scream African savannah!
2. Navigation Nightmare: Get ready for a change of pace! Things slow way down as navigation gets super tricky. There’s a canyon coming up that’ll have teams scratching their heads to find the exit.
3. Dune and Sand Smackdown: This zone throws in a mix of black rock mountains and sandy valleys. The 4x2s will be battling to stay out of the sand, especially those pesky dunes. The 4x4s get to play on some dunes – don’t let their small size fool you, these things pack a punch!
4. Desert Dash: Hold on tight! This section opens up into a vast desert with super fast tracks. Get ready to navigate on a fixed course for a few miles.
5. Navigation Ninja Warrior: Time to dust off those navigation skills again! Teams will be weaving in and out of a canyon, then things slow down as the route winds through valleys with some climbs and descents that will test your rig.
6. Moroccan Desert Mashup: Forget the sand, this part is a rollercoaster of all things Moroccan desert! Expect slow but interesting driving with some short water crossings.
7. Mountain Mayhem: The stage throws in one last challenge – a climb through a canyon that leads to some technical trails. Once you conquer this beast, get ready for a final farewell to southern Morocco with a scenic mix of oases, dry lakes, and more!
06.03.20224 – Stage 4
Merzouga – Tafraoute Sidi Ali
We set off at dawn to tackle the fourth stage, waking up at 5, and immediately dove into what turned out to be another unforgettable day. Although it was the shortest stage, it featured every type of terrain and numerous changes in pace, proving to be both beautiful and challenging, but always approached with our usual spirit.
During the timed trial, a small mistake – missing a signal – cost us some time; it didn’t go exactly as we had planned. However, what really matters is that our Panda Guerrilla remained intact, and this makes us particularly happy.
Upon arriving at the camp, located very close to the city of Tafraoute Sidi Ali, we proceeded with refueling and started preparations for navigating stage 5 with a roadbook and iPad (and a Guerrilla), essential for monitoring average speed and tackling the time trial.
To give an idea of what the Panda Raid has been like so far and what still awaits us, there is a crucial fact: at the first stage, we were 407 Pandas, by stage 5 we start with 301! ✊
1. The Departure: The stage opens a short distance from the bivouac, alternating fast tracks that immediately kick off the action.
2. Between Mountains and Dunes: The course slows down, winding through breathtaking mountainous scenery and introducing small dunes that preview the challenges of sand driving. The stage is then enriched with incredible landscapes, featuring a mix of desert tracks and mountain passes.
3. Green Desert: The presence of vegetation along the tracks brings a change of scenery, but concentration must remain high to tackle dry rivers and slower, more rugged mountainous stretches that require patience.
4. Treacherous Gullies: The gullies return, narrower and sandier, demanding frequent valley changes where the collaboration between navigators and drivers becomes essential.
5. Parallel Challenge: The desert unfolds in all its glory with teams navigating parallel to the dunes on fun sand tracks. The 4×4 vehicles face challenges within the dunes, while the 4x2s maintain a parallel course.
6. Technical Mountains: A change in rhythm and landscape leads us onto mountainous terrain, slowing down the pace and introducing technicalities with rocky areas and fords that should not be underestimated.
7. The Desert Continues to Show Its Splendor: Starting from a chott (dry lake) and then raising the level of challenge, testing the less experienced with reflections on being there.
8. Final Stretch: Towards the end, although the stage seems to slow down, there are challenging passages with less need for navigation but surrounded by a spectacular scenery, ensuring an emotionally rich end to the stage.
05.03.20224 – Stage 3
Boudnib – Merzouga
The third stage of our first Panda Raid started immediately with a timed trial in a dry riverbed full of rocks, which gave us a good feeling right away. Shortly after, we found ourselves in an incredible landscape, flat and gravelly, with nothing on the horizon; we crossed it at high speed, guided only by the compass, feeling an incredible sensation. Then came the long-awaited moment of the baptism of the dunes, and overcoming them with a Panda was like defeating gravity. The stage was really tough but fantastic. We finished the stage in the Merzouga desert, arriving quite early at the camp located at the foot of the Great Dune, which rises almost 200 meters.
How is our Panda Guerrilla doing?
Fortunately, it is intact. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for all the cars: many Pandas arrived after sunset, dented, with flat tires and damaged engines. Several teams had to work all night to repair the damage.
Before retiring to our tents, we enjoyed a well-deserved Panda Raid beer (yes, we organized ourselves to always have cold beer) and this morning we woke up ready to face a new stage that promises to be very challenging. In our first Panda Raid, it’s not the position that counts, but starting from 100th place (out of 340) is not bad at all. ✊
1. Intense Start: Difficulties start just a few kilometers after leaving the bivouac.
The route combines sandy gullies and desert tracks.
Navigation is initially not too complex.
2. Dune Areas and Challenges for 4×2: The stage crosses a small area of dunes dedicated to 4×4 vehicles.
4×2 vehicles will face challenging passages through sandy gullies.
From here on, the route becomes more interesting with a greater need for navigation in the open desert.
3. Fast and Irregular Tracks:
Initially fast and spacious tracks become more irregular.
This requires attention and precision.
4. Crossing the Oases: A change of direction leads to crossing several oases.
The route follows a black earth gully, alternating between inside and outside the river.
5. Approaching the Great Dunes of Merzouga: With the dunes already visible in the distance, many changes of direction make it easy to lose the way.
It is essential to pay attention to the annotations on the roadbook and to the signs.
6. Final Section in a Gully: Leaving the main route, the stage winds its way through a gully with varying degrees of sand difficulty.
Halfway through the gully, the 4×4 vehicles head for a main track before finishing the stage, highlighting the challenges for 4×2 vehicles as well.
04.03.2024 – Stage 2
Oued Mhareg – Ksar Salhi
We completed the second stage, one of the longest, with almost 400 km of off-road tracks and particularly challenging sections. Our Panda performed admirably, even overcoming two or three significant jumps, fortunately without suffering any major damage. It was a stage where orienteering skills were essential to find the exits and entrances of dry rivers with a significant amount of rocks and sand, but we came out on top. We then concluded the stage with the regularity test, which went decidedly better than the previous day.
Arriving at the camp, we enjoyed a well-deserved shower, followed by the usual car inspection and the evening briefing under a spectacular starry sky.
The night was freezing, as expected.
Upon waking, we found the updated standings that place us around 80th position, a significant improvement that gives us great satisfaction and motivates us for the following stages. The next stage we are about to face is considered one of the most difficult: 200 km of track, characterized by extreme toughness. ✊
1. Spectacular Start: The long-distance stage opens with a breathtaking descent along wide slopes. A change of route introduces a series of fords to be crossed between majestic mountain formations, culminating in the exploration of an abandoned ancient military fort, offering an incredible panoramic view.
2. Shifting Scenario: The route then moves on to winding tracks between white dunes, offering an extremely fun driving experience.
3. Varied Terrain: The tracks on compact terrain give way to off-piste sections between vegetation and small dunes to be tackled, all while maintaining the correct direction.
4. Towards the Valleys: The stage continues in less open environments, introducing challenging mountain valleys.
5. Complex Navigation: Teams are required to choose the optimal route along a wide ford, where sand and stones alternate in a balanced way, and where pitfalls in the form of large steps lurk. Just when the tension seems to ease, co-drivers must remain focused on the crossing. The landscape becomes the true protagonist, offering a memorable conclusion to this long and intense stage.
03.03.2024 – Stage 1
Lago Mohamed – Oued Mhareg
The first official stage of the Panda Raid put us to the test with its 200 km of rugged terrain, including very irregular rocky terrain and expanses of sand that tested the endurance of our Panda, which held up magnificently, despite a hair-raising moment: a mega jump that opened the rear doors, risking losing our tents. Fortunately, with some straps, we were able to fix everything on the fly and resume the march.
We also faced a timed test, in which our time was not the best due to traffic and the impossibility of overtaking on a terrain strewn with treacherous rocks.
Arriving at the finish line tired but enthusiastic about how the first stage went, we dedicated ourselves to the maintenance of our Panda Guerrilla before getting some rest. At night the temperature dropped below zero, as evidenced by the photo of our frozen Panda.
We are around 120th position in the general classification, but we are determined to recover. Now we are ready to start the second stage ✊
1. Fast Tracks in Open Spaces: Navigation can sometimes be difficult due to the presence of multiple tracks.
2. Slower Off-Piste Passages: Starting with navigation on track, the route includes rocks, sand, and crossings of oueds (dry rivers). Although not an extensive off-piste, it is intense and is the first arena episode of the Panda Raid 2024.
3. 7 km Wading: The route follows a 7 km long ford. The terrain, generally compact, has stretches of soft sand.
4. Return to Fast Tracks and Numerous Junctions: With not many landmarks, it is necessary to pay close attention to the roadbook and direction.
5. New Track Sector: A completely different sector from the previous ones begins.
6. Crossing Mountain Valleys: With curves and difficult passages similar to those of a trial, requiring precision driving. The route then becomes enriched with dangerous tracks, landslides caused by rain, and technical areas in the canyons.
7. Conclusion of the Mountainous Section and Return to Open Spaces: A combination of easy tracks and fun sandy sections among the vegetation. Navigation is further complicated by frequent changes in direction.
02.03.2024 – Stage 0
After a six-hour ferry journey from Almería with all 340 Pandas participating in the Panda Raid, we have reached the port of Nador in Morocco. Before heading to the campsite, we refueled and got some SIM cards. We then tackled the first 85 km of the transfer to the pre-departure campsite, in preparation for the first official stage of the Panda Raid. We are currently at the base camp, where we have set up our tents and are about to attend the pre-departure briefing for Stage One. ✊
01.03.2024
Almería, in the heart of the Almadrabillas Park: Today was entirely dedicated to completing the technical checks of our Panda and all the documentation required to participate in the competition.
Once this preliminary phase was completed, we were given the sunshade, the roadbook and our race number.
Tomorrow we will embark on the ferry that will take us to the port of Nador to face Stage 0. This will be a transfer stage, which will prepare us for the official start from Lake Mohamed. We are ready to start the Panda Raid with number 274, ready to give it our all.
27.02.2024
Countdown: -4 days. Our “Guerrilla” Panda is all set for the adventure, loaded up and en route to Almería.
Team spirit is sky-high: we’re geared up to tackle every mile of the Panda Raid. Bring on the desert!
Condividilo!