Alexandre Pinto has become the first Portuguese driver to be crowned World Champion in Rally-Raid in the SSV category. The Dakar 2026 is now his next big goal.
Pinto’s outstanding performance at the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal paved the way to the world title, which was confirmed this week after his main rival, Italian Enrico Gaspari, did not take part in the Rallye du Maroc. With one round still to go in the season, we already have a World Champion in the SSV (Side-by-Side Vehicle) drivers’ standings — and he’s Portuguese! It should be remembered that Bernardo Oliveira had already clinched the World Co-drivers’ title.
Alexandre Pinto, 26 years old, began racing in 2021 in the Portuguese Cross-Country Championship, where he claimed several podiums. In 2024, he finished runner-up in the European Baja Cup in the SSV category and was named Best Rookie at the Rallye du Maroc. This year, he won the SSV class on his Dakar debut, finished 3rd in Abu Dhabi, 2nd in South Africa, and once again scored maximum championship points at the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal, as the event winner was not competing in the W2RC.
“Now it’s official — I’m a World Champion,” were Alexandre Pinto’s first words. “This year, everything was new for me and the feeling is just incredible. I’m really proud of what myself, my co-driver Bernardo Oliveira, the Old Friends Rally Team and our sponsors achieved throughout the season. In this rookie year, there was a lot of work, sacrifice and focus to make this result possible. This title belongs to everyone,” he said.
But the season was not always smooth sailing: “At a certain point in the championship our advantage dropped due to several mechanical problems, but we never gave up — that was the key to success. In cross-country, the terrain always plays tricks on you, and managing emotions is crucial,” he stressed.
The new World Champion will compete at the Rallye du Maroc (October 10–17) with the Polaris RZR, aiming for victory and preparation ahead of Dakar 2026: “We’re going to fight for more,” he assured. Alexandre Pinto is also looking ahead to defending his SSV title next year: “We’ll see what happens. I want to show our potential and carry the Portuguese flag high in the Rally-Raid World Championship,” he concluded.