Nani Roma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nani Roma |
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Roma (right) with co-driver Michel Périn, 2009
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| Born | 17 February 1972 Folgueroles, Barcelona, Spain |
| Dakar Rally career | |
| Debut season | 1996 |
| Current team | X-Raid |
| Former teams | KTM, BMW, Mitsubishi |
| Championships | 2004 Dakar Rally (motorcycle), 2014 Dakar Rally (cars) |
Joan "Nani" Roma Cararach, born on February 17, 1972, is a super talented rally racing driver from Folgueroles, Barcelona, Spain. He's famous for being one of the few people to win the incredibly tough Dakar Rally in two different ways: first on a motorcycle in 2004, and then in a car in the 2014 edition! That's like winning a major championship in two different sports! In 2021, he was part of the BRX Prodrive Hunter team.
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Nani Roma's Big Wins and Achievements
Nani Roma has had an amazing career filled with many victories and top finishes. He's known for his skill and determination in off-road racing.
Winning the Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is one of the toughest races in the world. It's a long, challenging off-road race that covers thousands of kilometers across deserts and rough terrain. Nani Roma won it twice!
- In 2004, he won the Dakar Rally on a motorcycle. This was a huge achievement, showing his incredible endurance and riding skills.
- Ten years later, in 2014, he won the Dakar Rally again, but this time driving a car! This made him one of the very few people to win the Dakar in both categories.
Other Important Victories
Besides the Dakar Rally, Nani Roma has won many other important races and championships:
- He won the European Cross Country Senior Championship in 1994.
- He has won the Baja Aragón several times (in 1999, 2002, 2005, and 2009). The Baja Aragón is another famous off-road rally race held in Spain.
- He also won the Rally of Tunisia in 2002 and the Rally of Egypt in 2003.
- In 2013, he won the Gymkhana Grid, which is a different kind of motorsport focused on precision driving through an obstacle course.
These wins show that Nani Roma is a versatile and highly skilled driver, capable of excelling in various types of rally racing.
Nani Roma's Dakar Rally Journey
Nani Roma has participated in the Dakar Rally many times, first on motorcycles and then in cars. This table shows his results over the years. "DNF" means "Did Not Finish," which happens often in such a tough race. "Stages won" means how many individual race sections he won during that year's rally.
| Year | Class | Vehicle | Position | Stages won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Bike |  KTM |
DNF | 0 |
| 1997 | DNF | 0 | ||
| 1998 | DNF | 1 | ||
| 1999 | DNF | 1 | ||
| 2000 | 17th | 4 | ||
| 2001 |  BMW |
DNF | 3 | |
| 2002 | KTM |
DNF | 1 | |
| 2003 | DNF | 1 | ||
| 2004 | 1st | 2 | ||
| 2005 | Car |  Mitsubishi |
6th | 0 |
| 2006 | 3rd | 0 | ||
| 2007 | 13th | 0 | ||
| 2008 | Event cancelled – replaced by the 2008 Central Europe Rally | |||
| 2009 | Car | Mitsubishi |
10th | 1 |
| 2010 | BMW |
DNF | 1 | |
| 2011 | DNF | 0 | ||
| 2012 |  Mini |
2nd | 3 | |
| 2013 | 4th | 4 | ||
| 2014 | 1st | 2 | ||
| 2015 | DNF | 1 | ||
| 2016 | 6th | 0 | ||
| 2017 | Toyota |
4th | 0 | |
| 2018 | Mini |
DNF | 0 | |
| 2019 | 2nd | 0 | ||
| 2020 | Borgward |
27th | 0 | |
| 2021 | BRX |
5th | 0 | |
| 2022 | 52nd | 0 | ||
| 2023 | did not enter | |||
| 2024 | Car |  Ford |
44th | 0 |
| 2025 | 42nd | 1 | ||
See also
In Spanish: Nani Roma para niños
