After an impressive 2nd place in the Challenger category at the start of 2025, in his debut at the Dakar Rally competing as a rider for the Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team, the young Gonçalo Guerreiro, just 24 years old, was recently crowned Portuguese National Off-Road Champion, riding a Polaris RZR Pro.
A rider in rapid ascent on the global off-road scene, in 2025 he was also invited twice by World Champion Nasser Al-Attiyah to compete with his team, winning on both occasions. He returns in January to the world’s greatest motorsport competition, now as an official rider for the American manufacturer Polaris, integrated into the SSV LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport structure led by Sébastien Loeb, with his sights firmly set on victory in the SSV category, as he stated at the official presentation held at Palaphita Cascais – Casa da Guia.
“I’m going into this Dakar with more experience, and I believe that will be the key to success. At the same time, I’m fully aware of how difficult the Dakar is. It’s an extremely demanding event, both physically and mentally, but that’s exactly what makes the Dakar so special. As riders, we thrive on those challenges, and that’s why we always want to come back. In 2025 I fulfilled my dream of starting the rally, and now I want to return and achieve a better result. 2025 was a success, but now I have more experience to aim for the top step of the podium,” said Gonçalo Guerreiro.
With victories in the SSV category at the last two editions of the Dakar Rally achieved by the American manufacturer Polaris, Gonçalo Guerreiro’s integration into the official team for the 2026 edition is a source of great pride for Polaris Iberia:
“For us, it is a great honour to have Gonçalo as an official Polaris rider. It is the combination of a project that began with the new Pro R. It was a clear commitment to internationalisation and racing outside the United States, and it culminates with such a strong rider as Gonçalo representing Polaris Iberia in the world’s biggest off-road race,” said Marketing Manager Miriam Torres.
The 2026 Dakar Rally will once again take place in Saudi Arabia, running from 3 to 17 January, with both the start and finish in Yanbu, and a rest day on 10 January in the capital, Riyadh.
Find out more about Polaris at:
www.polarisportugal.com
www.facebook.com/PolarisRZR
Gonçalo Guerreiro:
www.facebook.com/goncalo.guerreiro.54
Source: Gonçalo Guerreiro official press release
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