At TMA Technology and Environment, we are renewing our commitment to sports, sustainability, and the values that define us: overcoming challenges, teamwork, and respect for the environment.
Therefore, we are once again sponsoring Team Sant Cugat in the 2026 Panda Raid (April 11-18), one of the most iconic endurance races in the Moroccan desert, where adventure and solidarity meet every kilometer.
This year, the team will compete with two Seat Marbellas sporting updated TMA liveries.
The four participants are ready to tackle a particularly demanding route that will test the drivers’ mechanical abilities, navigation skills, and mental fortitude.
It will be a desert crossing that will require precision, endurance, and constant adaptation. Because the Panda Raid isn’t just about reaching the finish line, but about how you get there: making decisions, overcoming obstacles, and responding to a relentless environment.
A challenge that goes beyond competition and reflects values that we at TMA share: perseverance, adaptability, and commitment at every stage of the journey.
FROM SANT CUGAT TO THE DESERT: AN ADVENTURE THAT UNITES LANDSCAPE, SUSTAINABILITY, AND TEAM SPIRIT
From left to right: Lluís, Joan, Ubald, Pol and Ignasi.
The Panda Raid is much more than a rally. It’s a journey that combines adventure, solidarity, and respect for the environment. At TMA, we deeply identify with this philosophy, which aligns with our mission to promote sustainability and the Circular Economy in everything we do.
As we did previously, and again in 2025, we are once again supporting Team Sant Cugat in this edition, convinced that their effort and dedication are an inspiring example.
The event brings together hundreds of teams who, aboard the iconic Seat Panda and Marbella, traverse Morocco without GPS, without modern technical assistance, and with a single objective: to move forward, overcome obstacles, and enjoy an experience that combines adventure, camaraderie, and respect for the environment.
“We are approaching this Panda Raid with great enthusiasm and with the goal of once again being among the best. We have worked hard to arrive prepared and have complete confidence in the reliability of our cars and the cohesion of the team,” explains the Sant Cugat Team.
TEAM RESTRUCTURING: NEW ROLES, SAME AMBITION
Talent, commitment and team spirit inside and outside the vehicle.
The 2026 edition arrives with significant changes in the team lineup. The most successful team, initially formed by Ubald de Azpiazu and his son Ignasi, has had to reorganize at the last minute. Ultimately:
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- Ignasi de Azpiazu moves from co-driver to driver, assuming a key role in this edition.
- Pol Ciriquian joins as co-driver, bringing energy and commitment.
- Ubald de Azpiazu, a long-time member of the team, assumes the role of Coordinator, remaining fully integrated into the expedition and contributing his years of accumulated experience.
The second car will be driven by Joan Molinera, accompanied by Lluís Xicoy, repeating the duo that competed successfully in 2024. Their combined experience will be key to tackling the most technical stages.
This restructuring has not dampened the team’s motivation; they arrive better prepared than ever and with their sights set on the top spots.
A MORE TECHNICAL, TOUGHER 2026 ROUTE WITH GREATER EMPHASIS ON NAVIGATION
Two Seat Marbellas prepared to face more than 2,000 km of desert.
The Panda Raid organizers have designed a particularly challenging itinerary for this edition:
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- 6 stages.
- 2,021 km through Morocco.
- Nearly 1,000 km on tracks and sand.
In addition, navigation will play a more prominent role and will be a decisive factor. The terrain is varied: dunes, fast tracks, rocky areas, and sections requiring pure navigation.
Accurately interpreting the roadbook, maintaining consistency, and making quick decisions will be the difference between advancing and losing positions.
The combination of endurance, strategy, and mechanical reliability makes this edition one of the most complete and demanding in recent years.
Because what awaits them is not just a route, but an experience that will test every decision, every adjustment, and every moment of coordination in the heart of the desert.
THOROUGH MECHANICAL PREPARATION: RELIABILITY AS THE KEY TO SUCCESS
The team’s two Seat Marbellas have undergone a thorough overhaul over the past few months. The objective is clear: to maximize mechanical reliability, an essential aspect for aspiring to the top positions.
Months of preparation for maximum reliability. Every mechanical detail counts.
The team has worked on:
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- complete engine overhaul.
- suspension reinforcement.
- replacement of critical components.
- improved cooling.
- transmission adjustments.
- optimization of weight and load distribution.
The experience gained in previous editions—including podium finishes and top rankings—has allowed the team to refine its strategy and technical preparation.
As the team explains: “The mechanics are key: if they don’t respond, there’s no way to fight for a good result. That’s why we’ve reviewed every detail, making sure the cars are as resilient as we are.”
TMA AND THE PANDA RAID: A COMMITMENT THAT GOES BEYOND SPORT
Equip Sant Cugat in the Panda Raid 2026 with sponsorship from TMA.
The Panda Raid is not just a competition. It’s a stage where values that are part of TMA’s identity are put to the test: sustainability, social commitment, respect for the environment, teamwork, and resilience.
Each edition reminds us that great challenges—whether crossing endless dunes or transforming waste into valuable resources—can only be overcome with perseverance, vision, and collaboration.
In a rally where GPS doesn’t exist, where technology is reduced to the essentials, and where every decision is made by reading a roadbook and listening to the engine, sustainability takes on a special meaning.
The Panda Raid promotes a responsible adventure model that respects the land and fosters solidarity with local communities. It’s a test that demonstrates that excitement and adrenaline can coexist with environmental commitment.
At TMA, we work every day to promote the Circular Economy and reduce the environmental impact of our activities. Sponsoring initiatives like this is a way to reinforce that commitment and support inspiring projects.
Just as teams fine-tune their vehicles to withstand thousands of kilometers of sand, at TMA we refine our processes so that every piece of waste finds a second life. Both paths share the same philosophy: nothing is lost, everything is transformed.
A TEAM READY TO MAKE ITS MARK
More than a team: a sum of experience, effort and commitment.
Equip Sant Cugat faces this edition with its characteristic determination. They don’t just compete: they represent a city, a community, and a set of values that transcend the finish line.
Their objective is clear: to overcome the challenges of the desert, enjoy the experience, and leave their mark at every stage.
They know exactly what they want: “Always competitive, always enthusiastic. That’s who we are at Equip Sant Cugat: we face every challenge with ambition, with respect for the environment, and with the conviction that true success lies in surpassing ourselves stage after stage.”
The Panda Raid is a race where every kilometer tells a story. A story of effort, of quick decisions, of mutual trust between driver and co-driver, of nights in the bivouac sharing anecdotes and reviewing maps under a seemingly endless sky. It’s an adventure that transforms those who experience it.
From TMA, we send them all our support and wish them a journey full of learning, camaraderie, and success. We know that every dune conquered, every stretch of sand, and every moment of uncertainty will be an opportunity to demonstrate their talent, their preparation, and their team spirit.
Go for it, team! We can’t wait to see you cross the finish line again this year, with the satisfaction of having given your all.
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