Red Bull KTM Factory Racing announced on 21 May 2026 that Luciano Benavides has signed a new multi-year contract with the team. The announcement coincides with the start of the third round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, the Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina, the rider’s home country.
The contract extension comes at a time when Benavides is performing exceptionally well. Earlier this year he claimed victory at the 2026 Dakar Rally in spectacular fashion, settling the final standings by a margin of just two seconds. The Argentine took three stage wins during the rally, including a decisive victory in the first marathon stage, and rode consistently at the front as the terrain became more demanding. It was his first ever Dakar victory, and simultaneously the 21st Dakar title in KTM’s history.
He has continued in the same vein during the current World Championship season. After the first two rounds, Benavides leads the championship with 48 points, ahead of Tosha Schareina (Honda, 44 points) and his teammate Daniel Sanders (KTM, 42 points). He carries that championship lead into the Desafio Ruta 40, his home race in Argentina.
Career at KTM
Luciano Benavides was born on 15 June 1995 in Salta, Argentina, and made his rally-raid debut at the Desafio Ruta 40 in 2017. Since then he has developed step by step into one of the best riders in the field. In addition to his Dakar victory, he also claimed the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship title in 2023, proving his ability to perform at the highest level over an extended period. His brother Kevin Benavides won the Dakar in 2021 and 2023, making the Benavides name one of the most powerful forces in modern rally-raid.
What Do Those Involved Have to Say?
Benavides himself says he is delighted with the partnership. “KTM believed in me from the very beginning of my rally career, when I was still very young and had little experience in the discipline. They trusted me, gave me the opportunity and supported me at every step. Winning Dakar changed something in me, because it was a dream I had carried for so long. But now the motivation to keep winning is only greater.”
Andreas Hölzl, KTM’s rally team manager, echoes that sentiment. “Luciano has an enormous amount of experience, but also an incredible mentality. He is a true professional, mentally very strong, and always works hard on his development. He has become a key player in our team.”
KTM’s Position in Rally-Raid
The contract extension fits within a broader KTM strategy of binding its strongest riders to the team on a long-term basis. With Benavides as the reigning Dakar champion and championship leader, and Daniel Sanders as winner of the second championship round in Portugal, the team currently boasts an impressive line-up. Whether that dominance continues will depend on the competition from Honda, which has a prominent presence in the championship with multiple riders.
The exact duration of the new contract has not been disclosed. Multi-year contracts in this segment typically span two to three years, but KTM has not made any specific statement on the matter.
The third round of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, the Desafio Ruta 40, took place from 24 to 29 May in Argentina. Benavides won the round on home soil.
