Former GNCC winner and 2018 Youth Enduro World Champion Ruy Barbosa is on a mission to race the 2026 Dakar Rally.

After four seasons in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series in the United States — where he became the highest-placed Latin American rider in nearly half a century and earned victories in XC2 at Camp Coker and Tiger Run 2023 — the Chilean Ruy Barbosa has a new challenge. “I left GNCC to go after something bigger. The Dakar is my ultimate goal, and I’ve already begun the journey,” Barbosa says, reflecting on a 2024 season cut short by a knee injury.

25-year-old has already made a name for himself before that with the Youth Enduro world title in 2018 as well as representing his country at the ISDE.

Following in Chaleco Lopez’s foot steps

Despite being a newcomer to rally-raid and the big bikes, Barbosa’s transition has been impressive. In just two rounds of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship this year — Abu Dhabi and South Africa — he finished fourth in the Rally2 class in both events and broke into the top 12 overall, competing head-to-head with seasoned rally racers.

“With so little experience and preparation, being able to go toe-to-toe with the best and deliver strong results was an honour,” Barbosa said. “It gives me the confidence to dream of a future podium, like De Gavardo and ‘Chaleco’ López once did.”

With a full year ahead to train, secure the all-important sponsors, and fine-tune his skills in the dunes, Ruy Barbosa’s countdown to Dakar 2026 is officially underway — and he’s aiming to make history for Chilean rally-raid.

The 2018 Youth Enduro World Champion says the switch from enduro to rally-raid hasn’t been simple. Barbosa admits the transition has required a steep learning curve — physically, mentally and technically.

“There are big differences between enduro and cross-country rally. In rally, you rely on a roadbook, you hit speeds of up to 160 km/h and have to read the terrain while navigating the desert. Enduro is more intense and technical, but the rhythm, the mindset, and the risks in rally are something else. The navigation, in particular, has been the toughest to adapt to.”

Qualifying is just the first step

Barbosa has already done enough to pass the qualification process and prove he can take on the big one in Saudi Arabia.

“I’ve got the sporting ticket — now comes the hardest part: getting the budget. Without financial backing, there is no Dakar. That’s just the reality. I don’t have a team behind me, so it all depends on finding sponsors. That’s the real race I’m running right now,” he says candidly.

“I’ve been racing since I was five years old, and this is the biggest challenge I’ve ever taken on. I want to reach the Dakar, finish it, and write a new chapter for Chilean motorsport.”

 

 

Photo Credit: Edo Bauer Photography