At 96, Rally Legend Sobiesław Zasada Returns to Argentina in a Porsche
Sobiesław Zasada has returned to Argentina at age 96, joining the 2026 Gran Premio Argentino Histórico as a co-driver in a Porsche 911 Dakar carrying a tribute to the car that took him to victory there 59 years earlier.
Porsche published details of the appearance on October 15, 2026. The Automóvil Club Argentino, which organizes the historic regularity event, reported that this year’s competition began on September 18. Zasada attended as a special guest and participant, reconnecting the modern event with one of the most demanding wins of his career.
A modern 911 Dakar with a 1967 identity
The white 911 Dakar used for the return wore red-and-blue graphics and the number 405, echoing the red Porsche 911 that Zasada called “Porschito.” Porsche says Zasada took part as a co-driver, an important distinction from suggesting that he returned as the car’s primary competition driver.
| Detail | 2026 return | 1967 victory |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Special guest and co-driver | Driver |
| Car | Porsche 911 Dakar | Red Porsche 911 “Porschito” |
| Race number | 405 tribute livery | 405 |
| Event | XXIII Gran Premio Argentino Histórico | Gran Premio Internacional de Turismo |
| Result | Commemorative participation | Class C and overall victory |
A replica of Porschito was also displayed during the visit. Together, the replica and the Dakar’s livery turned the appearance into a rolling piece of Porsche rally history rather than a new-model announcement or a test of the current car.
Why the 1967 win still stands out
The original Gran Premio Internacional de Turismo covered more than 3,000 kilometres across mountains, deserts and flooded plains. Porsche says nearly 400 entrants started the event, including factory-supported teams.
Zasada and engineer Jerzy Dobrzański won Class C and the overall classification in their 911. Their equipment included an intercom system that Porsche says had not previously been used in an Argentine competition, allowing the crew to communicate more effectively over the long route.
The result added an early international rally success to the 911’s record. In 1968, Zasada and Marek Wachowski then entered the London–Sydney Marathon for Porsche, winning the Australian leg and finishing fourth overall after more than 16,000 kilometres.
A career measured across five continents
Porsche describes Zasada as Poland’s most decorated rally driver. The company credits him with 148 rally victories on five continents, competition in more than 40 countries and almost three million kilometres driven. He won three European rally championships and eight Polish national titles.
Those totals come from Porsche’s historical account; Chiefs Review has not independently reconstructed every event in his career. The core details of the 2026 appearance are also supported by the Automóvil Club Argentino, which separately reported Zasada’s participation and the start of the event.
Why the return matters
Historic regularity rallies are not simply modern speed contests for old cars. They preserve the machines, routes and personal stories that shaped motorsport, while asking crews to meet controlled timing targets over long public-road stages.
Zasada’s return connects that living culture to an era when long-distance rallies could stretch for thousands of kilometres and draw hundreds of entries. It also arrives during a busy fall for international racing. Chiefs Review has recently covered BMW’s three-car Macau FIA GT World Cup lineup and the Opel electric rally cup’s Sanremo title fight.
Sources: Porsche Newsroom, October 15, 2026; Automóvil Club Argentino event report. Featured image: Sobiesław Zasada beside the tribute-liveried Porsche 911 Dakar in Argentina, photographed by Jan Zdzarski Jr. / Zasada Team and supplied through Porsche Newsroom for editorial reporting under its published media-use terms.