Calgary rally team qualifies for world’s toughest races, set to represent Canada at Dakar 2026

A Calgary rally team is gearing up to take on two of the most gruelling off-road races on earth—and they’re doing it with the Canadian flag proudly on display.

A Calgary-based rally team has earned its ticket to two of the most grueling off-road races on the planet — and it’s proudly bringing the Canadian flag with it.

The Gear Shop Technical Motorsport, a grassroots team of Albertans and newcomers, will compete in the 2025 Rallye du Maroc and the 2026 Dakar Rally after a standout performance in Mexico earlier this year.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” said Nathan Hayashi, the team’s founder and lead driver. “We’d never done this before, but the team did amazing and somehow we ended up finishing second overall.”

That second-place finish at the Sonora Rally — part of the official “Road to Dakar” series — earned the Calgary crew automatic entry into both major international races.

Sliding Into the DMs — and Onto the World Stage

It all started with a social media message.

“We have a technician here named Misha, and he found us through Instagram,” said Hayashi. “I actually didn’t take it seriously when he sent us a direct message, but he got his visa, showed up for an interview, and his background was pretty extensive.”

Misha Onufriichuk, originally from Ukraine, had spent years working as a rally engineer in Europe.

“For two years, I told Nathan about rally raid, how it’s beautiful,” he said. “Canada doesn’t have many teams like this. I just want to help grow it here.”

Before entering international competition, the team had to ensure their race vehicle — a 2023 Ford Bronco Raptor — complied with Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) rally raid regulations.

“I researched every part of the car,” said Onufriichuk. “We needed to check all the rules to make sure the Bronco was eligible and make small upgrades while staying within FIA standards.”

A casual conversation about racing in Morocco soon snowballed into a much bigger idea: Dakar.

“That was a huge, crazy idea,” said Hayashi. “Like, are you crazy? We’re not going to Dakar.”

But then came a phone call to a veteran rally team manager who had previously led Mitsubishi’s Dakar effort.

“On the phone, I said, ‘You ever watch Cool Runnings?’” Hayashi said. “‘We’re kind of like that — but going from the cold to the desert, and we don’t know what we’re doing.’ And he said, ‘I love the challenge. I’ll take you on.’”

The team’s first test came in March at the Sonora Rally in Mexico. Even getting across the border was a challenge.

“We were held there for six hours,” Hayashi said. “We had a FedEx truck with all our tools and gear, and they thought we were going to sell it all.”

A Bronco, an Alberta plate, and a dream of Dakar

Despite being newcomers, the team finished top of their class in a race that saw them cover up to 500 kilometres a day, across five straight days.

“There isn’t anything that can really prepare you for it, except for the love of driving,” Hayashi said. “It’s grueling but so rewarding.”

Their Bronco — surprisingly — remained mostly stock.

“We raced all five days on the factory BF Goodrich KO2 tires,” Hayashi said. “We’re not even sponsored. I was blown away. We put in a roll cage and went for it.”

Behind the scenes, Onufriichuk handled engineering and diagnostics. “I just plug in my laptop, check suspension, check the ECU,” he said. “If everything’s perfect, it’s OK to go to the next race.”

The team’s logistics — including hundreds of spare parts — are managed by Steven Hjorleifson, who drives the support truck and sets up camp at each stop.

“My job is to beat the racers in the support truck to get to the next stop and make sure everything’s ready,” he said. “It’s our first try, so we’re learning as we go.”

The team says no matter how far they travel, their Alberta roots stay with them.

“There’s a red Alberta plate on the Bronco,” said Hayashi. “It’ll be out in Morocco, in Saudi Arabia, and on roads all across Europe. It’s a symbol — not just of where we’re from, but who we’re racing for.”

As they prepare for Morocco this fall, and Dakar in January 2026, the team is balancing training, logistics, and funding. The race vehicle and support truck will be shipped by boat to Spain before heading into the Sahara.

“Physically, we’re all working on our bodies and our minds,” said Hayashi. “There’s nothing that can truly prepare you — you have to love this.”

For Onufriichuk, Dakar is the pinnacle of a lifelong dream. “First time I saw the Dakar Rally, I was seven years old,” he said. “Now I’m 34, and it’s finally happening.”

Beyond personal goals, the team is focused on representing Canada with pride.

“We’re conscious of the fact we’re representing Canada,” said Hayashi. “It makes us proud — and we want to grow the sport here.”

Their five-year vision includes building a Canadian rally raid series and mentoring new drivers. “We want to train racers, build vehicles, and support them through the whole process,” Hayashi said. “An arrive-and-drive program, but homegrown.”

The message to others?

“If you want to try something, don’t wait — just do it,” said Onufriichuk.

“Dream big,” added Hayashi. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the means. If you keep pushing, and take action every day, things will fall into place.”