João Ferreira announced Monday that he has parted ways with X-raid Team, ending a three-year tenure with the team.

“It has been a very long journey, we achieved many things together, I learned so much with every single member of the team and I really enjoyed all the moments we had together,” wrote Ferreira. “But the time has come to say goodbye to the X-Raid Family.

“Thank you Sven Quandt and Tobias Quandt for trusting me and my potential, I’m very grateful for all that you have done for me, thanks to my car chief Filipe Ferrão and all the people involved in my progression.”

Ferreira partnered with X-raid to drive the Mini JCW Rally in 2022, moving up to the premier T1 (now Ultimate) class from T2. In his first year, he won the FIA European Cup for Cross-Country Bajas as well as the Portuguese Cross-Country Rally title.

He did double duty for the team the following year, racing the upgraded Mini JCW Rally Plus in Bajas and domestically as well as X-raid’s Yamaha T3 in the World Rally-Raid Championship. His Dakar Rally debut also came in the latter, placing 37th in class.

After a one-off for Can-Am, where he won the 2023 Rallye du Maroc in SSV, X-raid promoted him to race the Mini for the 2024 W2RC. Ferreira finished 11th in points with a best run of second in his home country’s BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, and also won the FIA World Baja Cup with three overall victories at Baja Poland, Baja Portalegre 500, and the Dubai International Baja.

Three races into the 2025 W2RC, Ferreira sits ninth in points. He placed eighth at Dakar and seventh in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, then retired from his final start in the Mini at the South African Safari Rally.

Fererira also won the season openers for the FIA European Baja Cup and CPTT.

“From the first races together in 2022, through intense championship battles and successful Baja seasons, including memorable wins, your dedication and performance have left a lasting mark on our team,” reads a statement from X-raid.

“We sincerely thank you for the long-term cooperation, the passion, and the countless shared moments on and off the track.

“We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.”

Featured image credit: Julien Delfosse / DPPI / ASO