The 13th edition of Desafío Ruta 40 YPF 2026 officially kicked off with an intense day at the Villicum bivouac. Competitors in the Open and Desafío Ansenuza categories completed the Administrative and Technical Checks, making everything ready for the start of the competition, which is the third round of the World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC).
Throughout the day, competitors and teams carried out the necessary administrative checks and safety and technical inspections of their vehicles, a crucial step before heading out onto the roads of San Juan and Mendoza. The atmosphere at the bivouac began to heat up with the arrival of the participants and the constant movement of motorcycles, cars, and support teams.
The activity will continue tomorrow with the checks for the FIM categories, while the closing of the day will have two highlights: the official presentation of the route of the Dakar Rally 2027 headed by David Castera and the General Briefing of drivers of Desafío Ruta 40 YPF 2026, where the last sporting and safety details will be given prior to the start.
YPF RÖD Malle Moto Makes its DR40 Debut
Without a doubt, one of the biggest attractions of this year’s Desafío Ruta 40 is the debut of the Malle Moto category, the most extreme and challenging modality of rally raid. In this category, competitors race without team assistance, and the riders themselves are responsible for repairing their vehicles at the end of each stage.
The riders participating in this new category have already begun setting up in the exclusive workspace located at the Villicum bivouac, where they are preparing every detail for the start of the competition. The addition of Malle Moto gives a special feature to the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF and reinforces the adventurous spirit that characterizes Rally Raid.
Source: Desafio Ruta 40
Disclaimer:
As a service to the sport we all love and follow, Rally-Raid Network posts numerous media releases from a wide variety of sources on our website. Due to the large number, and some times short time available, it is nearly impossible to review each public release. These articles are written by reporters or press officers who work for various organizers, teams, drivers, riders, and other parties, and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rally-Raid Network.
