Profile of JOAO FERREIRA - X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM - Dakar

N°240 Car X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM

MARK CORBETT

VLADAS JURKEVICIUS

JOAO FERREIRA

(prt) Born on 08/03/1999

“I don’t really know what to expect”

CREW FACTS

J.F.

Joao made his cross-country debut back in 2019 in the T2 production class before getting behind the wheel of a T1 Toyota Hilux in 2021. From there he migrated to an X-Raid Mini with which he won the 2022 European Baja championship by a slim margin at the very last
For the 2023 Dakar, super young Joao switch to the T3 class, entered aboard the X-Raid developed,Yamaha powered YXZ 1000R Turbo Prototype SXS. With a brand new car they knew they were outsiders and mechanical issues effectively put paid to any chances of a category podium. They did however break a record that delighted Yamaha: by winning a stage they allowed the Japanese manufacturer to be the first ever to win stages in both the car and bike categories!
For the 2024 Dakar Joao switched to the T4 class and was fighting for the podium before a small electrical problem saw him finish in 5th place.
For 2025 Joao is back with his faithful co-pilot Filipe Palmeiro in a T1+ Repsol 100% Renewable Fuels powered X-Raid Mini in which they finished 2nd on the Portuguese round of the W2RC.

F.P.

As Joao Ferreira’s co-driver Filipe Palmeiro had an extremely busy year. So far, they have competed in 22 races and still have two more to go. It has meant racing different kinds ofcars and competing in four different championships!
On the other hand it has been an extremely fruitful. Together they have won the Portuguese championship, the European championship and going into the final round of the Baja World Cup in Dubai they have a 9 points lead!

2025 AMBITIONS

J.F.: “I was pretty happy to fight for the podium in the T4 class for my second Dakar. We were certainly competitive. Since then we’ve been super busy racing the W2RC, except the Argentinian round, the Portuguese championship, the European championship and the Baja world cup which we are leading going into the last round in Dubai. For sure the Ultimate category is going to be super competitive on the 2025 Dakar so I don’t really know what to expect. Obviously as a competitor you always want to win but I think we’ll have to just drive as well as we can and see where we end up.”

F P: “It has been pretty crazy and I haven’t seen too much of my one and half year old son. My agricultural activities have also taken a hit. But I’m not complaining because the success we’ve had has made it all worthwhile! For the Dakar we will be racing the REPSOL 100% Renewable Fuel Mini. For the team it is a tactical choice and avoids them putting all their eggs in one petrol powered basket. For us it isn’t maybe so good but our plan is not to have a plan. We’re just going to take each day as it comes and if we stay out of trouble I think our finishing position should be pretty good.”

Vehicle

X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM

MINI JCW RALLY 3.0D
X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM

Mark MINI
Model JCW RALLY 3.0D
Engine V6
Power 263 kW / 570 Nm
Weight 2020 kg
Chassis tubular
Tank capacity 325 l.
Performance tuner X-raid Team
Assistance X-raid Team
Class T1+: Prototype Cross-Country Cars 4x4

Ranking 2025

All news of J. Ferreira

Ferreira drops down the rankings

After 442 km, Joao Ferreira, who had climbed up to 3rd place, has dropped down the rankings and is now more than 8’ behind Henk Lategan. Brian Baragwanath has taken third place on the provisional stage podium, making it a South African 1-2-3 with 50 km left before the finishing line.

Minis leading from the front

At km 89, Guillaume de Mévius, who started first, is 5′57″ behind Mattias Ekström and has been joined on the track by his X-raid teammate, João Ferreira. The Portuguese rider is 1′55″ off Ekström’s pace. Third off the line, Nasser Al Attiyah is closing in on the two Mini drivers.

The grit of champions

FOCUS

This stage could well have been a trailer for the 2025 Dakar, shining a spotlight on two aspects of the Saudi expanses where the 47th edition is taking place. The special had the potential to restore minds and bodies to their pre-race day condition, beginning with a long sector on fast plateaus where Ross Branch and Guerlain Chicherit blundered out of...

Seamless from Santo, with Variawa victorious

FOCUS
The stay in Bisha, which lasted almost a week and included scrutineering, came to a close when the wind stopped blowing! The Dakar has resumed its nomadic nature, heading northwest towards Al Henakiyah. The riders, drivers and crews dropped down by about 500 metres in altitude and especially had to tackle a beginning to the special that was very rocky, before picking...

Ferreira in third

João Ferreira, the Portuguese and European Baja Champion as well as 2024 World Cup winner, has achieved the third best time after 118 km, 1’57’’ behind new provisional leader Lucas Moraes. He is the best placed Mini driver, just in front of Guerlain Chicherit, who trails him by 23’’.

Ferreira is the leading Mini

João Ferreira in his Mini, for whom he has contested more than 30 races since 2021, is a pillar of the X-Raid team. Ferreira is the Portuguese and European Baja Champion as well as World Cup winner in 2024, and is the leading representative for the British constructor in the rankings after 868 km, 36’19’’ behind the leader.