Could we see the KTM X-Bow race the Dakar Rally someday? Guillaume de Mévius isn’t ruling it out, but let’s take things one step at a time.

De Mévius’ family owns Verlinvest, an investment firm that is set to acquire KTM Sportscar GmbH. The family’s G Rally Team announced Thursday they have formed a partnership with the X-Bow that is touted as a “merge of on-road × off-road.”

Once the sale is finalized, KTM Sportscar will no longer be part of Pierer Bajaj AG. Bajaj Auto and Pierer Mobility had reached an agreement in March to jointly operate KTM, saving it from financial ruin, before resuming off-road motorcycle manufacturing in July. Given Bajaj’s specialty in bikes, the Indian company opted to let the sports car division go and focus solely on the two-wheel side on the condition that the KTM name stays with its new owner.

The de Méviuses are among the wealthiest families in Belgium and part owners of AB InBev, the largest beer brewer in the world with brands like Beck’s, Budweiser, and Corona. Guillaume’s uncle Frédéric is on InBev’s board of directors.

The X-Bow was introduced in 2009 as an ultralight sports car, and has seen action in GT series and the Race of Champions. 100 units can be made annually.

“Motorsport has shaped my life, and I know the power of precision engineering and daring vision,” Guillaume stated. “KTM X-Bow has always been about pure, unfiltered performance, and now, we’re ready to redefine what’s possible on the track, the road, and the world stage. I’m really excited to further expand the X-Bow GT-XR on-road project, and also to enter the four-wheel off-road world with KTM X-Bow.”

While G Rally Team did not specify what will be done with the X-Bow, they are no strangers to building cars for rally raid. The G Rally OT3 is one of the top Challenger vehicles in FIA Bajas while the more powerful G-ECKO made its debut at this year’s Dakar Rally. Ghislain de Mévius, the younger brother of Guillaume, finished second in the 2023 European Baja Cup T3 standings with the OT3.

Speaking to Auto Hebdo, Guillaume explained he, Ghislain, and their rally veteran father Grégoire had learned months prior of Pierer Bajaj planning to part with the X-Bow and felt it could be profitable even if sales and production are modest.

As for an X-Bow rally raider, Guillaume is open to the idea though he stressed he technically won’t be a KTM factory driver since Pierer Bajaj no longer owns it. He currently races a Mini for X-raid Team.

“Nothing is settled yet but it’s a topic we’ll explore,” he commented. “Don’t count on me to say the X-Bow will enter the Dakar in the short term, but we will develop the off-road sector and build on KTM’s excellent reputation in that field.”

On the rally bike side, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing currently leads the World Rally-Raid Championship manufacturers’ standings and has won all three rounds so far in 2025.

Featured image credit: G Rally Team