Pride is justifiably high at BRP with the resounding victory of South Racing Can-Am drivers Reinaldo Varela and Gustavo Gugelmin from Brazil in the side-by-side (SxS) class of the 40th edition of the Dakar Rally in South America. The winners piloted the award-winning Can-Am Maverick X3 vehicle, which made a remarkable entry in the world’s toughest and biggest rally.
“This amazing victory achieved in very difficult conditions shows how BRP’s unrelenting focus on innovation gives birth to best-in-class products,” said Anne-Marie LaBerge, senior vice-president, Global Brands and Communication. “For us, racing is an exciting testing ground to create the best possible experience for our consumers.”
The Varela-Gugelmin crew completed the Dakar Rally in 72 hours, 44 minutes and 6 seconds, almost an hour ahead of its closest competitor. Another South Racing Can-Am crew, composed of Leonel Larrauri and Fernando Imperatrice, won the final stage Saturday in Córdoba, Argentina. Juan Carlos Uribe Ramos and Javier Uribe Godoy from the Can-Am Peru team also had a great race until they had to drop out, two days before the arrival.
“To have the Can-Am Maverick X3 vehicle win the side-by-side class in its first ever attempt in Dakar, the world’s most difficult race, is outstanding,” noted Olivier Camus, Director of Global Product Strategy at Can-Am. “It’s a clear demonstration that we have an industry-leading platform that will allow consumers and racers alike conquer the most challenging terrain imaginable.”
Introduced in August 2016, the Can-Am Maverick X3 vehicle had a stellar first year on the racing circuit, winning three major championships in North America as well as several races elsewhere in the world. Last fall, BRP once more expanded the Can-Am Maverick X3 family by introducing a value-driven model, the 900 HO, and a mud-ready package.
