Francisco Barreto will be in two of the top Dakar Rally vehicles in 2025. Besides racing his usual Toyota Hilux Overdrive in his main stomping grounds of Europe, he will also compete in the Middle East in a Taurus T3 Max for the first time.

Barreto has raced the Hilux since 2023, having made his debut in the Ultimate class in 2021 with a Ford Ranger. A regular in his native Portugal’s national championship (Campeonato Portugal de Todo-o-terreno), he finished 13th in the 2024 CPTT outright standings and fourth among T1+ cars with a best outing of third at the Baja TT de Lagos.

His endeavors in the Hilux also extended to the FIA European Baja Cup, finishing second at the 2024 Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura. While he entered the rest of the season, Extremadura was his lone points-earning finish as he placed 16th in the EBC standings. Barreto also debuted in the World Rally-Raid Championship when it came to Portugal for the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid, where he placed seventh.

The Taurus, meanwhile, will mark his first foray into the FIA Middle East Baja Cup. Barreto will run all four races with Paulo Fiuza as his navigator, with the season set to begin this weekend in Saudi Arabia.

Carlos Silva will be his partner in the Hilux.

The Toyota Hilux Overdrive won the Dakar earlier this month with Yazeed Al-Rajhi, while the Taurus claimed the Challenger class courtesy of Nicolás Cavigliasso.

Barreto’s 2025 FIA schedule

#	Race	Vehicle	Date
1	Saudi Baja	Taurus T3 Max	January 30 – February 1
2	Jordan Baja	Taurus T3 Max	April 10–12
3	Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura	Toyota Hilux	May 1–3
4	Italian Baja	Toyota Hilux	July 3–5
5	Baja España Aragón	Toyota Hilux	July 24–27
6	BP Ultimate Rally-Raid	Toyota Hilux	September 22–28
7	Baja Portalegre 500	Toyota Hilux	October 23–25
8	Qatar International Baja	Taurus T3 Max	November 6–8
9	Dubai International Baja	Taurus T3 Max	November 20–23

Featured image credit: Víctor Cuervo / Secção de Motorismo