KTM RALLY FACTORY RACING WELCOME LUCIANO BENAVIDES

Rally Announcement

Part of the KTM family for the past four years, 21-year-old Luciano has been successfully contesting various national and international off-road events. A two-time outright Argentinean Enduro Champion, the Salta native has represented Argentina at the prestigious International Six Days Enduro on more than one occasions and claimed victories in the Open A class of the Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series in the US. 

An accomplished off-road rider, Luciano took the decision to make a switch towards rally racing at the end of 2016. Following in the footsteps of his elder brother and Dakar Rally rookie sensation Kevin Benavides, Luciano now has his sights set on learning and developing his skills as part of the KTM Rally Factory Racing team. 

Starting with the upcoming Desafio Ruta 40 in August, Luciano will continue his apprenticeship aboard the KTM 450 RALLY machine at the OiLibya Rally in October with the goal of earning a place in the Dakar Rally 2018. 

Luciano Benavides: “I’m really excited to be joining the KTM Rally Factory Racing team. For me, being part of the team that has been dominating the international rally scene for many years is like a dream come true. I’ve raced enduro for several years, winning two national titles in Argentina, and at the end of 2016 I decided to make the switch to rally. Finishing fourth overall at the 2016 Dakar Rally, my elder brother Kevin has been a role model for me. I am 21 now and I strongly believe this is the perfect moment to focus on building my career in rally racing. Becoming a member of such a professional team gives me great motivation to work hard. Our first event will be the Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina and then we’ll head to Morocco for the OiLibya Rally, in October. My main goal is to get fully prepared for my first Dakar Rally in 2018. I’m extremely grateful to KTM for giving me the opportunity to learn and improve.” 

KTM Rally Factory Racing team manager Alex Doringer is particularly pleased to sign Benavides to the end of 2020, saying: “We are very happy to be welcoming Luciano into the KTM Rally Factory Team. Signing a young racer like Luciano to a multi-year programme will allow him the time to learn, develop and grow as an athlete, while working closely with our Rider Manager Jordi Viladoms and the rest of the riders in the team. We aim to support him in the best ways, allowing him to find his speed in a safe, no-pressure environment. Starting with the Ruta 40 in Argentina and the OiLibya rally in Morocco he will take his first step in rally with us, and we hope that he will then qualify for Dakar and begin the next stage of his development.” 

Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Racing Team 

Toby Price (AUS) - KTM 450 RALLY 
Sam Sunderland (GBR) - KTM 450 RALLY 
Matthias Walkner (AUT) - KTM 450 RALLY 
Antoine Meo (FRA) - KTM 450 

RALLY KTM Rally Factory Racing Team 

Laia Sanz (ESP) - KTM 450 RALLY 
Luciano Benavides (ARG) - KTM 450 RALLY 

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