Can-Am Factory Racer Kyle Chaney Scores Second Overall at the 2026 Dakar Rally

Executive Summary

• Can‑Am factory racer Kyle Chaney achieved a second‑place overall finish in his Dakar Rally debut, posting the second‑fastest total time (56 h 13 m 35 s).
• The Maverick R platform secured six of the top ten overall positions and captured five stage victories, underscoring its durability over 8,000 km of desert terrain.
• The results provide valuable development data for future product engineering and reinforce the Maverick R’s positioning as a benchmark racing side‑by‑side.

Key Details

• Overall Result: Kyle Chaney (co‑driver Jacob Argubright) – 2nd place overall; total time 56 h 13 m 35 s.
• Stage Wins: Chaney won Stage 5; Can‑Am swept podiums on Stages 7 and 12; additional wins by teammates on Stages 7, 9, 12, 13.
• Top‑10 Finishers: Six Can‑Am South Racing drivers placed within the top ten overall (positions 2, 4, 5, 6, plus two others).
• Individual Performances:
• Joao Monteiro – 4th overall, Stage 13 win.
• Jeremias Gonzalez Ferioli – 5th overall, Stages 7 & 12 wins.
• Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez – 6th overall, Stage 9 win.
• Vehicle Platform: Maverick R equipped with Rotax turbocharged triple‑cylinder engine; demonstrated reliability across >8,000 km of extreme desert conditions.
• Development Insight: Data gathered will feed directly into production‑model engineering to enhance durability, control, and performance for consumer SSVs.
• Quotes:
• Jean‑François Leclerc (BRP Race Manager) highlighted team effort and commitment to “reclaim the top step of the podium.”
• Kyle Chaney noted his first‑year learning curve and intent to return stronger next year.

Notable Quotes

“Our team made huge strides this year… With multiple stage wins and consistent podium results, we demonstrated the strength and reliability of the Can‑Am Maverick R platform.” – Jean‑François Leclerc, BRP Race Manager

“This was my first year at Dakar… I’m happy that we finished on the podium. We’re going to go back to the drawing board and come out swinging next year.” – Kyle Chaney, Factory Racer