03.11.2026
The 2027 Dakar Rally marks a new chapter in the history of the prestigious event, with the race returning to Africa for the first time since 2007. Starting in Portugal before heading to Morocco, the demanding route will provide a fresh challenge for competitors as they tackle a variety of terrain across two continents. For Red Bull KTM, the change of location presents an exciting opportunity to demonstrate the performance of the KTM 450 RALLY and the strength of its three-rider line-up.
Ahead of the upcoming season, the trio of talented teammates are represented by elements to underline their unique personalities. Benavides, with his exceptional consistency and resilience represents Stone, Sanders, with his outright speed represents Wind, while Canet, the youngest rider on the team with endless energy, represents Fire.
Leading the team's challenge is Benavides, who returns to Dakar as the defending champion after securing a sensational maiden victory in 2026. In one of the closest finishes in the event's history, the Argentine fought until the very last kilometer to claim the win by just two seconds, delivering the company's 22nd Dakar title in the process. And this was all after arriving at the event following a knee injury sustained just three months before.
Building on that extraordinary achievement, Benavides is always rock-steady and has continued to demonstrate his consistency and pace throughout the 2026 W2RC season. With the experience and confidence gained from his historic victory, the KTM 450 RALLY rider will be determined to defend his crown when the event gets underway in January.
Luciano Benavides: “2026 has been one of my strongest years so far, starting with the Dakar victory, which was the biggest goal of my career. After that, it took me a little while to get back into my rhythm. There was a lot of travelling, and physically I wasn't quite back to 100%, but I'm feeling really good again now. We've been working hard in training, and I'm ready to start preparing for the next Dakar. With the event returning to Morocco for 2027, I think the route will suit me well. I've always been strong in Morocco, and I really enjoy the terrain and conditions there. It's going to be something new for everyone, and we'll have to adapt, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge. I'm feeling confident and excited to defend my Dakar title.”
Joining Benavides is Sanders, who heads into 2027 following another strong year in the W2RC. The Australian, who claimed both the Dakar Rally and World Rally-Raid Championship titles in 2025, has continued to demonstrate his undeniable speed throughout 2026. Dakar 2026 was bittersweet for Chucky, who broke his collarbone while leading the event on stage 10. Never one to give up, he fought through the pain barrier to complete the final two stages and finish fifth overall.
With victories at Rally-Raid Portugal and the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina this season, together with a runner-up finish at the Rallye du Maroc, Sanders leads the series with one round remaining. With his proven ability to perform across a wide variety of terrain, the Australian will be aiming to ride like the wind and add another Dakar victory to his impressive list of achievements.
Daniel Sanders: “The 2026 season hasn’t quite gone to plan compared to last year. Everything was going well until I broke my collarbone at Dakar, which was obviously a big setback. I was hoping to take back-to-back victories, so that was disappointing. After Dakar, we focused on the world championship and came back strongly, winning the next two rounds in Portugal and Argentina to take the championship lead. That was a really good feeling and showed that we still had the pace. Now the focus is on Dakar 2027, and I’m really excited about the change of location. I’ve only ever raced Dakar in Saudi Arabia, so heading to Portugal and Morocco will be something completely different. I think it’s going to be a tough race, especially with the event being a couple of days shorter, but it will be great to explore new terrain and have more fans able to come and watch us race. The team remains the same, and we have an incredible relationship. It really feels like a family away from home, and that makes such a difference. We’re always working hard to improve the bike, and we’ll continue pushing right up until Dakar to make sure we’re as prepared as possible.”
Completing the Red Bull KTM line-up is Canet, who has enjoyed a breakthrough season in the RallyGP category. After stepping up to the premier class for 2026, the young Spaniard has rapidly established himself among the leading contenders. His impressive performances culminated in a maiden RallyGP victory at the Rallye du Maroc, where he topped the timesheets after five days of racing. Having already demonstrated his outright speed and navigation skills against the world's best, Canet heads into his third Dakar with more experience and fired-up to challenge at the front of the field.
Edgar Canet: “Overall, the 2026 season has been a good one, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. To finish Rallye du Maroc with such a strong result gives us a really positive feeling heading into the final round and into 2027. I feel confident, motivated, and ready to fight for everything next season. We’re in a really good place right now, and I’m excited to get started and come back stronger than ever.”
Under the guidance of Team Manager Andreas Hölzl, Red Bull KTM continues to build on its successful rally-raid program, with the team's riders supported by an experienced group of technicians, engineers, and support personnel. The proven KTM 450 RALLY remains at the heart of the team's efforts, with ongoing development and extensive testing ensuring the riders are equipped to take on the challenges of Dakar and the W2RC season.
The 49th edition of the Dakar Rally will take place from January 9-23, 2027, beginning in Loulé-Faro, Portugal, before crossing into Morocco and finishing in Marrakech. The event begins with a prologue followed by 12 stages, covering a total distance of 7,234 kilometers with 4,341 of those raced against the clock.
Following the opening stages in Portugal, competitors will head into the demanding Moroccan landscape, where rocky tracks, technical navigation, and vast desert terrain will test both riders and their machinery. A rest day in Agadir will provide a brief opportunity to regroup before the final stages and the finish in Marrakech.
As the opening round of the 2027 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, Dakar will set the tone for another demanding season of competition. Red Bull KTM will once again be aiming to challenge for victories and championship honors as the team continues its commitment to success at the highest level of rally-raid racing.
Andreas Hölzl – Rally Team Manager: “It’s been an incredible 2026 season for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, starting with Luciano’s emotional Dakar victory back in January. It was a tougher event for Daniel, but we carried that momentum into the rest of the season and have won every round of the World Rally-Raid Championship so far. What makes me especially proud is that all three of our riders have demonstrated they are capable of winning at the highest level. A huge amount of hard work goes into achieving these results, both from the riders themselves and everyone behind the scenes. Just as our riders continue to push themselves, we never stop developing the KTM 450 RALLY, and the team is working harder than ever to improve every aspect of the bike. We still have one more championship round to go, but the season has been excellent preparation for the upcoming Dakar. I believe we are in a very strong position, and I’m really proud of everything the team has achieved as we look ahead to 2027.”
PRESS CONTACT
Zoé Bosch
Senior Public Relations Manager
+43 676 6040512