Italtrans, a leader in road transport for the large-scale distribution sector, and Prometeon Tyre Group, a manufacturer of tyres for trucks, buses and agricultural vehicles, announce the renewal of their partnership in view of the Dakar Rally 2025. Thanks to an exclusive agreement, Prometeon will once again bring “Petrux” to the Dakar. This time, instead of a motorcycle he will be driving truck number 608 of the Italtrans Racing Team – Rally Division truck, alternating with the main driver Claudio Bellina, who’s taking part in his 17th Dakar, and the navigator Marco Arnoletti.

The Bellina family has been passionately involved in the Dakar adventure for 16 years now. It will be taking part in the competition again this year, encouraged by the results it achieved in last year’s edition where it finished 7th overall – a prestigious ranking just out of the top five.

Danilo Petrucci’s presence is decisive: born in Terni in 1990, he has been called the “man of the four worlds”, since he is the only rider to have won at least one race in the MotoGP, MotoAmerica, Superbike and Dakar competitions. This will be his second participation in the world’s most famous rally, after he rode a motorcycle in the 2022 edition and grabbed a magnificent stage victory.

The switch from motorcycle to truck represents an unprecedented challenge for “Petrux”, who can rely on the experience and technological innovation of Italtrans vehicles and of Bellina and his team, as well as on the consistent performances of Prometeon tyres, which are specially designed for heavy-duty vehicles engaged in off-road competitions.

There is a common thread uniting Petrucci to four-wheel vehicles, since his father was a truck driver who also drove MotoGP trucks. Thanks to Prometeon and the renewed partnership between the two companies, Petrucci will drive a rally truck in one of the most demanding motorsports competitions, marking another important step in his career.

“I’m thrilled to be part of the Italtrans team and cannot wait to climb on board together with Claudio Bellina,” declared Danilo Petrucci. “I’m also grateful to Prometeon for making this unique opportunity come true”. I am really looking forward to competing in the Dakar for the second time because it is a fascinating challenge. I’ll have a lot to learn and will do my very best to ensure a successful result”.

Claudio Bellina commented: “After our thrilling experience in 2024 we now prepare to face the 2025 edition. Last year was a fantastic edition in which we drove a different truck to the one used in the past. The Dakar is a tough challenge that cannot be taken lightly, but we had lots of fun and even managed to achieve a good result in finishing just out of the top five. In the forthcoming edition I’ll have Marco Arnoletti and his vast experience at my side once again, along with newcomer Danilo Petrucci, who will make a great contribution to our team thanks to his riding experience. All eyes will be on us so we’ll do our best to have fun and achieve a good result. I would like to thank all our sponsors, above all Prometeon and Bosch, for their support in this great adventure.

“We are delighted to have brought Danilo Petrucci along on this new adventure,” declared Roberto Righi, CEO of Prometeon. “Together with Claudio Bellina and Marco Arnoletti, they make up a fantastic team blending passion, talent and skill – the essential qualities for a challenge as difficult as the Dakar, where the unexpected is always looming around the corner. To excel in these competitions, a team must rely on high-level performances, team spirit and technological innovation – the very same values that Prometeon shares and fully upholds”.

Marco Arnoletti: “This will be my eighth Dakar, the second with the Italtrans Racing Team. I had a fantastic experience last year because in Claudio’s team I found everything an enthusiast could want: a professional team, great people, a super-competitive vehicle and, above all, a genuine family with whom I can share my immense passion for rallying. Claudio is an exceptional driver who makes the difference, and this year we will be joined by Danilo: a unique rider who has won races in every championship he has participated in. Being a part of this team makes me immensely proud. I cannot wait to embark on this new great adventure”.

The collaboration between Italtrans and Prometeon is aimed at emphasising the resistance of Prometeon tyres, designed to withstand the most extreme conditions like the ones at the Dakar. Following the excellent result in last year’s edition, when Prometeon Serie 02 tyres were mounted on Iveco Italtrans trucks for the first time, the combined competition experience of Petrucci and Bellina will allow us to further test the already high reliability and performance of these tyres, but also of the trucks, on the typically rough terrains of the Dakar.

The Dakar Rally is scheduled to start on 3 January 2025, when the 47th edition of the world’s toughest race will start from Bisha, Saudi Arabia.

Italtrans Racing Team

Italtrans will participate in the 2025 edition of the Dakar with truck no. 608. The team is made up of the driver Claudio Bellina, who is participating for the 17th time, the co-driver Danilo Petrucci, and the navigator Marco Arnoletti.

Prometeon Serie 02 tyres

The Prometeon S02 Rally tyre is part of the new Serie 02 and shares its same technological package but tailored to rally competitions. The tyre is designed to offer excellent structural integrity for use in the most extreme off-road conditions.

This model was further optimised compared to the one Team Italtrans used for last year’s edition, to make it even more efficient.

The sidewalls were reinforced to withstand high impact forces, sharp stones and the typically abrasive surfaces of rally environments.

The tread was specifically designed to tackle the mixed and unpredictable terrains of rally races, and boasts exceptional grip on gravel, mud and asphalt.

The tread mix was formulated to ensure maximum grip across a wide range of temperatures and surfaces: this compound guarantees constant grip – an essential requirement for withstanding the tyre stress associated with rally competitions.

The reinforced structure of the tyre is designed to offer superior stability at high speeds and to withstand deformation during jumps and on rough terrains.

Lastly, the reinforced structure of the bead, built to withstand the extreme lateral forces and intense accelerations of rally racing, ensures stable and safe mounting on the wheel, while reducing the risk of the bead slipping on the rim or the tyre deflating during aggressive manoeuvres.