27
L27 · Brenthel Gen 3.5 SUV
Gerard Lopez / Brian Shaleen
Unlimited 2WD Trophy Truck · Legends
Gerard Lopez — Driver #27
Discovering the desert, one race at a time.
Three Brenthel Trophy Trucks. One team. Built for Baja.
Gerard Lopez / Brian Shaleen · Legends
Baja 400 debut · Unlimited AWD
Next-generation platform · 2027 program
At 54 years old, Spanish entrepreneur and racing driver Gerard Lopez brings decades of high-level motorsport experience and competitive ambition into the world of desert racing. A highly successful technology investor and entrepreneur, Gerard has also built an impressive reputation on circuit tracks across both Europe and the United States, collecting victories at some of the most prestigious venues in motorsport. Most recently, he clinched the 2025 IMSA HSR Championship, adding another major title to a racing career that has seen him compete in machinery ranging from a classic Ford Capri to cutting-edge prototypes such as the Cadillac DPi and the legendary Peugeot 908 HDi.
Beyond the cockpit, Gerard is widely recognized for his long-standing involvement in top-tier motorsport management and ownership. He owned the Lotus Formula 1 Team for six years, transforming it into one of the most successful independent teams of its era, achieving 23 podium finishes and two Formula 1 victories. He later remained involved at the pinnacle of the sport as a shareholder of the Alpine Formula 1 Team for another six years. Gerard also owned the FIA GT3 Championship-winning Gravity Racing team, as well as Iconic Racing, which has become one of the world's most successful historic racing organizations.
Now turning his focus toward desert racing, Gerard is beginning a new chapter with serious ambition. Competing this season in the fiercely competitive 2WD Unlimited category, he will campaign a Brenthel Gen 3.5 SUV-bodied race truck alongside a Brenthel luxury prerunner program. With plans already confirmed to step up into a Brenthel Gen 4.0 AWD Unlimited truck next season, the project reflects a long-term commitment to competing at the highest levels of off-road motorsport. Carrying the GL27 identity and Vanguart colors into the desert, Gerard approaches every mile with the discipline of a seasoned professional racer and the mindset of a competitor determined to earn his place in one of motorsport's toughest arenas.
Supported by an experienced team of engineers, co-drivers, and respected industry partners, the program combines elite engineering, endurance, and relentless determination — embracing the true spirit of modern desert racing.
Supported by an experienced team of engineers, co-drivers, and respected industry partners, the GL27 program combines elite engineering, endurance, and relentless determination — embracing the true spirit of modern desert racing. With a Gen 4.0 AWD Unlimited program already confirmed for next season, this is just the beginning.
The newest addition to the GL27 Vanguart Racing program. Brenthel's proven Gen 3.5 platform with all-wheel-drive traction — built to put power down through Baja's silt, rock and washes, and making its debut with the team at the SCORE Baja 400.
The GL27 Brenthel Trophy Truck is the ultimate expression of desert racing engineering. Built by Brenthel Industries for the brutally demanding terrain of Baja and beyond, this machine is engineered for one purpose: to win. Every component selected for maximum performance, reliability, and raw speed across any terrain.
Brenthel Industries' all-new Gen 4 AWD Trophy Truck — the next generation of the platform, joining GL27 Vanguart Racing as the foundation of a significantly expanded program for the 2027 season.
Supported by the Brenthel Industries HeliFix program.
The GL27 program is built on the strength of world-class partnerships. Every sponsor represents a shared commitment to performance, innovation, and the pursuit of victory in the world's most demanding off-road racing series.
Partner with GL27 and put your brand at the forefront of desert racing. Contact us for sponsorship packages and activation opportunities.
GL27 Vanguart Racing expands its collaboration with Brenthel Industries, adding a Gen 3.5 AWD and the all-new Gen 4 AWD Trophy Truck — and welcomes off-road legend Rob MacCachren for the Baja 400.
In a major crossover moment for global motorsports, international entrepreneur and former Formula 1 team owner Gerard Lopez has officially entered the world of off-road racing with Brenthel Industries — competing in the premier Unlimited Trophy Truck class.
Racing Where It Matters. Giving Where It Counts.
— We Race Hard. We Give Back. We Build Legacies That Last. —
Off-road racing doesn't happen in stadiums. It happens in deserts, in remote communities, through places most people will never see.
Every year, races like the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 pass through regions where children grow up with limited access to resources, education, and stability — often in orphanages and community homes that rely on external support to survive.
The Monito Foundation is the philanthropic extension of Gerard Lopez's off-road racing activity. We focus on supporting children in orphanages and vulnerable communities across Mexico — particularly in the areas where off-road racing takes place.
Our mission is to:
We don't believe in passive philanthropy. We build direct, measurable impact tied to racing performance. Every finish line crossed translates into real, traceable change for children in the communities we race through.
Supporting specific orphanages located along the race route — every mile driven creates a direct contribution to the nearest children's home.
Funding education, food, or infrastructure for vulnerable children — performance on track drives tangible results off it.
Visiting children's homes before or after race events — bringing the team directly into the communities, creating human connection that goes beyond donation.
Direct delivery of supplies, equipment, and resources to the communities we pass through during race week.
This is not a distant charity. Gerard Lopez and his sponsors are not just funding a cause — they are part of the story on the ground, directly connected to the communities impacted, and able to see, document, and share real outcomes.
Your brand contributes to tangible, visible change. Every dollar is tied to a child, a community, a measurable outcome — not a logo placement on a press release.
From race footage to community visits, the narrative is unique, emotional, and highly shareable. This is content that moves people.
Consumers increasingly expect brands to stand for something meaningful. The Monito Foundation delivers:
No other sponsorship in desert racing connects performance, community, and brand in the same way the Monito Foundation does.
The Monito character represents youth, energy, optimism, and potential. A child wearing a helmet — ready to race, ready to dream. It embodies the idea that every child, regardless of where they start, deserves a chance to go further.
Gerard Lopez grew up in a house with no hot water, no heating, and limited electricity. He embodies this spirit — that starting with nothing is not a ceiling. It is a starting line.
We are not here to build a marketing layer. We are here to build consistency, credibility, and long-term relationships with communities. We measure success not just in races — but in lives impacted.
The Monito Foundation is an invitation — to sponsors, to partners, to the racing community. Join us.
Every video opens directly on YouTube. Subscribe to the GL27 channel for new race content, behind-the-scenes footage, and full race edits every week.
Partnerships, press, media requests and general inquiries — send a message and the team will get back to you.