From the Dakar to Stuttgart: Braguscamp enters its roof tents for the European Innovation Award 2027

Madrid, 9 November 2026. In January this year, Braguscamp became the only roof tent and awning brand to take an active part in the Dakar Rally 2026, on board the Santana 400D vehicles of the Santana Racing Team led by Jesús Calleja and Edu Blanco. The tents were opened every night of the rally and closed every morning before returning to the track, without a single structural or functional failure. Ten months on, the Madrid-based manufacturer is taking the next step: it has entered its roof tents as candidates for the European Innovation Award 2027, the benchmark award of the European caravanning industry, whose results will be announced at the CMT fair in Stuttgart in January 2027.

From the Dakar to Stuttgart: candidate for the European Innovation Award 2027

The European Innovation Award is organised by the German publisher DoldeMedien Verlag (Stuttgart) and decided by an international jury of trade journalists and content creators from the caravanning and camping sector. Entries are assessed on innovation, usability, design quality and future relevance. The 2026 edition was presented on 18 January at CMT Stuttgart, Europe's largest public tourism and leisure fair.

Braguscamp has entered the 2027 edition with its hard-shell roof tents, making three arguments: the honeycomb aluminium architecture, the quality of the materials and the finishes already put to the test at the Dakar. It is the first time a Spanish roof tent manufacturer has competed for this award with a product validated in competition. The jury's decision will be announced in Stuttgart in January 2027.

Dakar 2026: the test bench no laboratory can reproduce

A competition and support vehicle at the Dakar covers hundreds of kilometres of track every day with the roof tent closed on the bars, exposed to constant vibration, fine dust, flying stones, wind and temperature swings of tens of degrees between midday and the small hours. On arrival at the bivouac, the tent has to open in seconds, hold up through the desert night and close again at dawn.

As we reported in BragusCamp makes history at Dakar 2026, the tents and awnings fitted to the Santana 400D vehicles were used on every stage and every night. The outcome the team reported at the finish was clear: a stable structure after the highest-vibration stages, fast set-up and zero failures.

For a manufacturer, that cycle repeated over two weeks equals years of private use condensed into a single race. The collaboration had begun a month earlier, with the agreement with Santana Motors to equip the new Santana 400 heading for the Dakar.

Architecture: an aluminium honeycomb shell designed for vibration

The foundation of Braguscamp roof tents is a rigid aluminium shell with a honeycomb core. That architecture combines two properties that are decisive in the desert: stiffness against the vehicle's torsion on the track and low weight on the roof. An EVEREST 135 stays around 68 kg, a contained figure for a hard-shell tent for two adults.

The internal structure distributes loads towards the anchoring points, so track vibration does not concentrate on hinges or corners. It is the same principle used in competition body panels, carried over to camping equipment.

Materials: what withstands dust, sun and the desert night

Three elements define the quality of materials of a roof tent in extreme conditions:

• Waterproof technical fabric with UV protection, which keeps the interior dry and stops the sun degrading the canvas and colours.
• YKK zips and reinforced mosquito nets, the first point of failure in a low-quality tent once fine sand gets into the zip teeth.
• Anti-condensation mesh and cross ventilation, essential when the outside temperature drops sharply at night and interior moisture tends to condense under the mattress.

In the SAVAGE range, the 7 cm MAXCONFORT mattress has a removable, washable cover: a minor detail in a catalogue, fundamental when you sleep after a day on the track.

Finishes and security: the LockNLoad system

Anchoring to the vehicle is the critical point of any roof tent. Braguscamp uses its LockNLoad system, with T-slots in the base of the shell that fix the tent to the crossbars and allow its position to be adjusted without special tools. The shell is secured with security locks with a special key, which prevent accidental opening while driving and theft when the vehicle is parked.

In the finishes, the manufacturer takes care of what makes the difference long term: shell seam trims, metal hardware, interior LED lighting, organiser pockets and an aluminium telescopic ladder that stands up to daily use without play. All Braguscamp roof tents come with a 3-year warranty.

Three ranges, one architecture: XPLORER, SAVAGE and EVEREST

The tents Braguscamp highlights for intensive use —and recommends to anyone who wants to leave the tent fitted on the vehicle all year— are three:

• XPLORER (135 and 145 cm): the most versatile range. Aluminium shell, advanced waterproofing, UV protection and anti-condensation mesh. Two widths for SUVs, 4x4s and vans.
• SAVAGE (218 × 135 × 165 cm): more interior height and panoramic views, MAXCONFORT mattress and double LockNLoad anchoring with key lock.
• EVEREST (135 and 145 cm): the toughest in the line-up. Honeycomb aluminium, 180° panoramic window, YKK zips and XPLORER X2 telescopic ladder. Around 68 kg in the 135 cm version.

All three share the same construction philosophy. The difference lies in interior space, height and extras, not in the quality of the materials.

What this means for anyone buying a roof tent

The tent that travelled on a Santana 400D at the Dakar is the same one delivered boxed to a customer's door in Madrid, Lisbon, Munich or Warsaw. There is no "competition" version and a "catalogue" version. That is the point of putting the product through such a test: so that whoever uses it twenty weekends a year in the mountains or on the coast knows the architecture, materials and finishes have already been through something far worse.

Braguscamp manufactures its own roof tents and sells them directly at braguscamp.com for Spain and the rest of Europe. In Madrid it offers free fitting at its Villalbilla warehouse by appointment, and customer service is handled via WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions

Which Braguscamp roof tent is the most resistant?

The EVEREST range is the toughest in the catalogue thanks to its honeycomb aluminium shell and its finishes. XPLORER and SAVAGE share the same aluminium construction and the LockNLoad system.

Are the tents that went to the Dakar the same ones sold on the website?

Yes. There is no special competition version: the product that equipped the Santana Racing Team's Santana 400D vehicles is the same one sold at braguscamp.com.

Can I leave the roof tent fitted on the car all year round?

Yes. XPLORER, SAVAGE and EVEREST are designed to stay permanently installed; the hard shell protects the canvas and mattress when the tent is closed.

Which bars do I need to fit a Braguscamp roof tent?

Two crossbars approved for the vehicle, spaced appropriately for the model. The LockNLoad anchoring fixes to the bars through its T-slots.

What warranty do Braguscamp roof tents have?

A three-year manufacturer's warranty.

Discover the roof tents tested at the Dakar

Browse the full range of Braguscamp roof tents, compare XPLORER, SAVAGE and EVEREST and message us on WhatsApp for advice on your vehicle.

Photographs: Braguscamp / Santana Racing Team. Dakar is a registered trademark of Amaury Sport Organisation.