2025 was supposed to be Pau Navarro’s second Dakar Rally competing in the Ultimate class, driving a Ford Ranger T1+. However, his deal with Past-Racing ended up collapsing, so he’s dropped down to Challenger where he will race a Taurus T3 Max from BBR Motorsport.

Navarro had signed with Past-Racing in September ahead of the Rallye du Maroc. In what ended up being his lone race for the team, he finished 13th overall with a best outing of 12th on the final leg.

Although he continued to test with the team well into November, things seemed to break apart between him and the team by the time everyone was in Barcelona for the 2025 Dakar presentation.

“The Ford deal fell apart in the end,” he told SoyMotor.com. “Fortunately, the BBR team called me when they found out and we were able to come to an agreement.”

SoyMotor noted that Navarro did not specify what caused the partnership to fall through.

Instead of a T1 car, Navarro will drive the #304 Taurus T3 Max with Lisandro Herrera as navigator. While it will be his first time competing in Challenger, he was previously one of the hottest names in the production-based SSV class before graduating to Ultimate. Navarro entered the top category in a Toyota HIlux T1.1 at the 2023 Rallye du Maroc followed by a Mini T1+ at the 2024 Dakar, retiring from the latter after breaking his hand in a crash.

Even if not the highest level, he still steps into what is perhaps the best T3 car today. The Taurus finished 1–2 in class at this year’s Dakar and dominated at Morocco where its drivers swept the top five.

On Wednesday, Navarro formally became a Red Bull-endorsed athlete.

Featured image credit: Bastien Roux / DPPI