LUCIANO BENAVIDES AND RED BULL KTM WIN THE 2026 DAKAR RALLY!

Luciano Benavides: A Historic Dakar Victory

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Luciano Benavides has conquered the 2026 Dakar Rally in the most dramatic fashion imaginable. He claimed overall victory by just two seconds after an all-out battle across the Saudi Arabian desert.

Never giving up despite multiple setbacks, the Argentinian delivered his best when it mattered most. By attacking until the very last kilometer on his KTM 450 RALLY, he secured his first Dakar Rally victory. Meanwhile, Daniel Sanders and Edgar Canet finished in fifth and thirty-second place respectively, completing an extraordinary campaign for the Red Bull KTM team.

Dominance and Family Legacy

The performance delivered by Benavides throughout the event was outstanding. He combined speed and intelligent race management to fight for the win until the last moment. During the race, the Argentinian claimed three stage wins, including a decisive one in the first marathon stage.

Refusing to give up, Luciano sealed the greatest achievement of his career to date. This historic win marks KTM’s 21st Dakar Rally title. Moreover, it continues a remarkable family legacy, following his brother Kevin’s Dakar triumphs in 2021 and 2023.

Resilience of Daniel Sanders

Regarding Daniel Sanders, his Dakar was defined by sheer determination. After showing front-running pace in the first half of the rally, the Australian suffered injuries during the second week. These physical setbacks significantly affected his ability to race at full speed.

Despite the intense pain, Sanders made a tremendous effort to complete the remaining stages. He finished in an incredible fifth place overall, demonstrating the same grit that led him to win the 2025 World Rally Raid Championship.

Edgar Canet: The Future of RallyGP

For Edgar Canet, the 2026 Dakar Rally marked an important milestone. Competing for the first time in the RallyGP category, the Spaniard became the youngest stage winner in history. Although a technical issue on stage five halted his progress, Canet continued to demonstrate impressive navigation skills.

After gaining invaluable experience, Edgar completed his first RallyGP campaign emphatically. He finished the event on a high note with a dominant victory in the final stage, proving his potential for future titles.

KTM Success in Other Categories

Success for the team went far beyond the overall classification. In the Rally2 category, Toni Mulec delivered a dominant performance to secure victory. This marks the second Dakar win for the BAS World KTM team, proving the competitiveness of the KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA.

Celebrations also continued in the Malle Moto category. Benjamin Melot achieved his long-awaited victory, finally reaching the top of the podium after four previous podium finishes. With the 2026 edition concluded, the focus now shifts to the development of the dominant KTM 450 RALLY for the next season.

2026 Dakar Rally Final Classification
1st Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 49:00:41
2nd Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 49:00:43 +0:02
3rd Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 49:25:53 +0:25:12
32nd Edgar Canet (ESP), KTM, 61:10:38 +12:09:57