2026 Desafío Ruta 40 was presented at Dakar Rally

In the run-up to the upcoming kick-off of Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, the official presentation of 2026 World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC) season took place, which will feature five rounds throughout the year, including Desafío Ruta 40.

Dakar Rally (January 3-17) is the opening race of W2RC since 2022 and will once again be the starting point of the season. After that, the caravan will head to Europe for bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal (March 17-22).

 

After being part of W2RC in 2023 and 2024, Desafío Ruta 40 will return to the Championship this year. This iconic South American competition will take place from May 24 to 29, with a route connecting San Juan – San Rafael – San Juan, in what will be the eagerly awaited 13th edition of the race. Located in the middle of the calendar as the third of five rounds, it will mark the transition between the first and second halves of the season.

The calendar will be completed with Rallye du Maroc (September 28 to October 3) and Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (November 22 to 27), closing a W2RC that will take place on four continents and promises a high level of competition.

Registration for the Desafío Ruta 40 is now open and can be done online at: www.desafioruta40.ar/inscripciones. The 2026 edition will cover a total distance of more than 2,700 kilometers, of which 1,699 kilometers will be selective sections. The race will go through iconic Argentine landscapes such as the dunes of El Nihuil, in an edition that promises to mark a new chapter in the remarkable history of DR40.