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Five crews, two generations of Polaris, a new stage in its development and a reinforced ambition with Polaris RZR Racing
With two consecutive Dakar Rally victories in the SSV category with Polaris RZR, the LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport team will compete in January 2026 with an expanded roster and two generations of Polaris vehicles. This top-tier lineup—five crews, renowned champions, and a new development SSV—confirms the team’s growing strength on the global rally-raid stage.
A GROWING TEAM, A STRUCTURED PROGRAM
The team continues its progress with an official Polaris Racing program spanning several years and will compete in the 2026 Dakar Rally under the name LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport-RZR Factory Racing. The goal: to continue learning, structuring the team, and developing the technology.
“This project is built step by step, with a lot of passion and a methodical approach. The goal is to continue to progress with each edition.”
— Sébastien Loeb, Co-Founder, LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport team
“The Dakar Rally is a school of humility. Every kilometre counts. This 2026 lineup is the result of collective work and a genuine desire to progress together with Polaris. We are fortunate to have a team with very complementary profiles: experienced drivers, young talents, and a shared drive to excel.”
— Cédric Fray, CEO, LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport
“After three years of meticulous preparation and development, culminating in two consecutive victories with Sébastien Loeb’s racing team, we now enter our fourth year more excited than ever for what lies ahead. From the very beginning, this partnership has proven to be a winning formula. It’s an exceptional team to work with, perfectly aligned with our racing program’s goals and ambitions, as well as the culture and core values of our brand.”
— René Basei, Vice President, Polaris International
- Interview with Johan Kristofferson, Gonçalo Guerreiro, Xavier de Soultrait and Brock Heger in the appendix
DAKAR RALLY 2026 LINE-UP
The LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport-RZR Factory Racing team will field two types of vehicles in this edition:
- RZR PRO R FACTORY (T4 category) – the reigning champion model, a benchmark in reliability and performance.
→ Johan Kristoffersson (SWE) / Ola Fløene (NOR)
→ Florent Vayssade (FRA) / Nicolas Rey (FRA)
- RZR PRO R RALLY (new SSV 1 category) – a groundbreaking development, more powerful and designed for speed.
→ Brock Heger (USA) / Max Eddy Jr. (USA)
→ Xavier De Soultrait (FRA) / Martin Bonnet (FRA)
→ Gonçalo Guerreiro (PRT) / Maykel Justo (BRA)
AN OFFICIAL POLARIS RACING PROGRAM
The collaboration between Polaris RZR Factory Racing and LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport is entering a new phase.
This long-term program aims to make the RZR PRO R Rally the benchmark of tomorrow in the SSV 1 category, while simultaneously strengthening the reliability of the RZR PRO R Factory.
“Returning to Dakar after securing back-to-back SSV titles with our RZR Pro R Factory platform is incredibly rewarding. It both validates our approach with the Loeb FrayMedia Motorsport team, and fuels our drive to push even further.
“This year marks a new chapter for RZR Factory Racing with the launch of the all-new RZR Pro R Rally, purpose-built to compete in the newly introduced SSV1 category. Engineered with Polaris’ proprietary Dynamix semi-active suspension system, the vehicle delivers uncompromising ride quality and precision handling—giving our racers full control in the most demanding Dakar conditions.
“That, combined with a record five Polaris RZR crews taking on next year’s race, we’re incredibly excited to compete and more motivated than ever to succeed on the world stage.”
— Alex Scheuerell, Director, Polaris Racing
A HUMAN AND AMBITIOUS STRUCTURE
This unique team blends experience, speed, and complementary skills: drivers with titles in their respective championships, promising young talents, and a unified technical team.
Based between Alsace and Lyon, the LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport team relies on an experienced technical unit and close-knit staff, already well-versed in the demands of the Dakar Rally.
Preparation, logistics, development, and technical support are all managed in-house, with direct support from Polaris engineers.
“We are very pleased to have increased the number of cars this year. The growing interest around the team shows that the project is gaining momentum, and our driver lineup is clearly a dream come true—while also putting a certain amount of pressure on us.
“These are drivers with impressive track records, known for their speed. This means we have to be flawless in every aspect of race preparation and execution. From a sporting perspective, the objective remains the same: to aim for victory. We know the competition has been working hard, so we will have to push and optimize every parameter that leads to performance. But it’s possible—and as they say, third time’s the charm. We’re here for that.”
— Jean-Philippe Nicolao, Team Manager
APPENDIX – PILOT REACTIONS
Johan Kristoffersson – RZR Pro R Factory (T4 category)
“I’d been interested in the Dakar Rally for several years. It’s a race I followed closely, always hoping to participate one day. The opportunity finally arose, and I was incredibly excited to seize it.
“I already knew some people on the team, particularly through rallycross and WTCR, so seeing familiar faces makes this project even more motivating. And joining the adventure alongside Polaris, which has already achieved great success in this category, is an incredible opportunity.
“This will be my very first rally-raid experience. With navigation and all the specific parameters of the Dakar, it will be completely new to me, but I have complete confidence in the LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport team, which has a wealth of experience, as well as in my teammates, from whom I hope to learn a great deal during the race, and also in Ola as my co-driver. My goal is to finish the Dakar cleanly, without taking unnecessary risks, and above all to accumulate as much experience as possible for the future.”
Gonçalo Guerreiro – RZR Pro R Rally (SSV1 category)
“I’m very happy to be joining Loeb FrayMédia Motorsport and Polaris RZR Factory Racing for the 2026 Dakar Rally.
“Being part of this team as an official factory rider is a great source of pride. The team has a very strong lineup, and we’re clearly aiming for a great Dakar, with a top-level performance.
“The main objective is to reach the finish line and, if possible, to get on the podium. It’s still a bit early to talk about it, but I’m really excited to see everyone again in Saudi Arabia and give it my all every day.
“I started working with Polaris RZR in 2023. I often ride a Polaris at home, and it’s a vehicle I really appreciate: very high-performing and very reliable. I also have an excellent relationship with the brand, so the choice was a natural one. Joining a team that has won the last two Dakar rallies is very reassuring: it demonstrates the quality of the work and the structure.
“We have all the elements in place to achieve a great Dakar, so for me, the decision was very easy to make.”
Brock Heger – RZR Pro R Rally (SSV 1 category) / Winner Dakar 2025
“Winning Dakar on my first try was an incredible experience for me. A big part of that success was my familiarity with the RZR Pro R Factory T4 as it is very close to the same machine I race stateside.
“Together with Polaris, we’ve built something strong together, and I’ve learned a lot from my first Dakar experience, as well as in the SCORE series and King of the Hammers back home. I’ve tested the Pro R Rally with the Polaris engineers and am extremely excited about the platform’s speed and capabilities.
“This year will present a whole new challenge in this new category and a huge opportunity to keep pushing the limits of what the Pro R can do. My goal this year is pretty much the same as last: Keep my head down, stay focused, and hopefully bring home the title again.”
Xavier De Soultrait – RZR Pro R Rally (SSV 1 category)
“Winning the 2024 Dakar Rally with Martin was a highlight, both for the two of us and for the entire team. We’ve been part of this adventure from the very beginning, and seeing how much the project has grown is truly satisfying. Every year, the structure strengthens, becomes more professional, and more ambitious—that’s what gives us the confidence to keep pushing our limits.
“The new Pro R Rally marks a real evolution in terms of performance and handling. You can feel all of Polaris’ experience and the commitment of the LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport team behind this project. The goal is clear: to stay at the top, fight for another victory, and continue writing this great story together.”
Florent Vayssade – RZR Pro R Factory (T4 category)
“Being part of this adventure from the very beginning has been an incredible experience. Finding myself today alongside such experienced and accomplished drivers is both impressive and highly motivating. I know I don’t have the same background or track record as some of my teammates, but that’s precisely what drives me to give even more—to learn, to improve, and to contribute to the team’s success as much as possible.
“Being part of such a professional structure, with the support of LOEB FrayMédia Motorsport and Polaris, is a real opportunity. I will give everything to help the team and my teammates, and to achieve the best possible Dakar.”
ABOUT POLARIS
As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris’ high-quality product line-up includes the Polaris RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman® all-terrain off-road vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles; Indian Motorcycle® mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot® moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe.