N°301 Car CAN-AM FACTORY TEAM

FRANCISCO LOPEZ CONTARDO

(chl) 1.75m / 78kg

Hobbies

Mountain bike, escuchar discos de rock en vinilo

Sponsors

Copec, Red Bull, Can-Am, BCI Seguros, Maxus, Mobil, Garcés Fruit, Emasa, Würth, Te Pillé, Oakley, Kühl, DC Shoes, Mall Sport, Specialized y Meds.

2023: 5º en Categoría Prototipos Ligeros T3
2022: 1º en Categoría Prototipos Ligeros T3
2021: 1º en Categoría Vehículos Ligeros TT y 1º en SSV (5 victorias de etapa)
2020: SSV/ 3º (2 victorias de etapa)
2019: SSV/ 1º (4 victorias de etapa)
2014: Moto/ Abandono en la etapa 6
2013: Moto/ 3° (5 victorias de etapa)
2012: Moto/ Abandono en la etapa 8 (1 victoria de etapa)
2011: Moto/ 4° (1 victoria en etapa)
2010: Moto/ 3° (3 victorias de etapa)
2009: Moto/Abandono en la etapa 13 (1 victoria en etapa)
2007: Moto/Abandono en la etapa 8

2023: Sonora Rally (5º) / Desafio Ruta 40 (4º) / Rallye du Maroc (Abandono). W2RC: 5º
2022: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (1º) / Rallye du Maroc (2º) / Andalucía Rally (3º). W2RC: 6º (1º T3). Baja Vegas to Reno (6º).
2021: Campeonato Rally Mobil de Chile, 4º en la categoría RC2N en la 4ª fecha.
2019: 23º en la clasificación general (13º en la RC2) del WRC Rally de Chile.
2018: 1º en el Campeonato Nacional de Rally Cross Country, Categoría UTV; Abandono en el Desafío Inca.
2017: 1º en la Categoría R2 del Campeonato Rally Mobil; 2º en el Campeonato Nacional de Rally Cross Country, Categoría UTV.
2017, 2016, 2015: Participación en el Campeonato Rally Mobil.
2013: 2° en Desafío Ruta 40; 4° en Rally de Marruecos
2012: 7° en Rally de Qatar; 3° en el Rally de Marruecos
2011: 3° en Rally de Egipto
2010: Ganador del Rally de Túnez; 2° en Rally de Egipto
2009: 3° en Rally de Túnez, 8° en el Rally de Egipto
2008: 2° en Rally de Dubái; 2° Dakar Series de Europa Central; 3° en Rally de Cerdeña.
2007: 4° en Rally Patagonia-Atacama, (1° en 450cc); 4° en Rally de Cerdeña, (1° en 450cc); 5° en Rally de Dubái.
2006: Campeón del Mundo de Rally (450cc); 5° Rally de Egipto, (1° en 450cc); 4° en Rally de Marruecos, (1° en 450cc); 3° en Rally de Argentina, (1° en 450cc); 5° Rally de Brasil, (2°en 450cc).

Interview

“I'm going to fight for P1 from the prologue to the end”

The images of Francisco "Chaleco" López and navigator Juan Pablo Latrach trying to prevent the sudden flooding of a river from sweeping away their Can-Am during stage 3 went viral and were some of the most dramatic of the 2023 Dakar. The crew's action prevented them from losing the car, and they managed to finish fifth, which was not enough for the Chilean, the most successful driver in the T3 category for light vehicles. On his return to Chile, he experienced a blessing, going from the airport to the hospital to welcome his third child with his wife, María Jesús. His W2RC season with the Red Bull Can-Am Factory Team was inconsistent and affected by mechanical problems, and he finished fifth in the championship. "Chaleco" is one of the biggest stars of this competition, winner of the Touareg Trophy in the SSV category in the 2019, 2021 and 2022 editions. The Chilean raider made his debut in 2007 in the African sands. In his seven participations in the Motorbike category between 2007 and 2014, he finished twice on the podium with P3 finishes in 2010 and 2013. He finished P4 in 2011, while the remaining four ended in retirement. He scored 11 stage wins on two wheels. After a five-year hiatus, the Curicó native returned to the Dakar in 2019 in the new side-by-side category, quickly adapting and winning the title in the edition held in Peru. He finished third in Saudi Arabia in 2020, with two stage victories. "Chaleco" dominated in 2021, winning in two categories: light vehicles and SSV, with five stage victories. In 2022, facing the Red Bull drivers at the time, Cristina Gutierrez and Seth Quintero, "Chaleco" did not need a stage victory to return to the top of the T3 podium. He also won the world championship in the SSV T3 Prototypes category 15 years after winning the two-wheel crown in 2006. At his side, Juan Pablo Latrach heads into his eleventh Dakar, eager to discover the new route and its challenges. The veteran is ready to face another demanding season in the W2RC. Always competitive, "the King of the Desert" is ready to fight for P1 from the first kilometre of the prologue to the end of the Dakar.


F.L.C: “It was very difficult to finish the 2023 Dakar. We were leading the rally on the first day, and on the second day, we had that problem in a river that cost us time. We were ready to win, but it wasn't possible. We ended up fifth, but we were not happy with the result. The championship was very inconsistent. We had a lot of problems with the car and the electronics”.
“The Dakar is always a new challenge, as in this edition, which will be even more complex. There will be longer stages and 48-hour days in which we will have to stop wherever we arrive at the finishing time. There are always complications on the route and with navigation, which makes this rally more adventurous. We are also working on some improvements to the car, hoping to be in good shape for January. We trust the team will have a competitive car”.
“Objective? The goal is always to be consistent and to be at the front. To try to fight for P1 from the first kilometre of the prologue to the end of the Dakar. I would be happy if I could win, but we know that the category is highly competitive. We are ready to give our best”.


J.P.L.V.: “P5 on the Dakar left us with a bit of a bitter taste because so many things happened to us, especially when the river flooded and almost swept us away. The rest of the year was the same as the result of the Dakar: we knew we had the pace to win, but we were very unlucky”.
“This will be my 11th Dakar, and I will compete in all the other W2RC rounds. How do I view the Dakar route? The truth is that I find it entertaining, with innovations that make the navigators have to work hard. I have the experience to take on this new challenge. I like it, and I'm excited about it. I'm anxious to see what they have in store for us. 'Chaleco' and I work well as a team. Winning is the main objective, and that's what we're aiming for”.

Vehicle

CAN-AM FACTORY TEAM

CAN-AM MAVERICK XRS TURBO
CAN AM FACTORY RACING TEAM

  • CAN-AM
  • MAVERICK XRS TURBO
  • South Racing – Can-Am
  • South Racing – Can-Am
  • T3.1: Lightweight Prototype Cross-Country

Ranking 2024

All news of F. Lopez contardo

Reactions - 16/01 17:10 [GMT +3] - Car

Francisco ‘Chaleco’ López: “We attacked full-on”

‘Chaleco’ López, who finished second on the day’s stage, did his utmost to try and make up time on Cristina Gutiérez. However, the Spaniard held firm and only conceded 35 second to the Chilean. The Chilean Can-Am driver still requires eight minutes to reach the third step of the final podium.

“We attacked full...

Summary - 13/01 19:03 [GMT +3]

After the Empty Quarter

After six stages and a total of eight days of racing, including the prologue in AlUla, the 46th edition of the Dakar has been a roller-coaster of breakthrough performances, vindications, debacles, plot twists, comebacks and surprises on the tracks and dunes of Saudi Arabia. The culmination of the first week, the brand-new 48H Chrono concept, scattered drivers and co-drivers...

Summary - 10/01 19:20 [GMT +3]

"Quintafondo" and "Nasser Al Attack"

FOCUS

As the name suggests, the Empty Quarter is not exactly teeming with conventional architectural or cultural tourist attractions. Yet, for rally-raid enthusiasts, it is a staggering treasure trove with dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Millions? Billions, perhaps? Who knows, it is hard to count while in the throes of sand fever. The riders and crews were...

News - 10/01 13:35 [GMT +3]

Dakar 2024 - Stage 5 | All the results

RALLY GP | "QUINTY" IN SEVENTH HEAVEN

Pablo Quintanilla crossed the finish line with the fastest time and claimed his seventh Dakar stage win. Coming the day after the eighth triumph of his teammate Nacho Cornejo, this is the second Chilean victory in a row. Cornejo also took stage 2, bringing the Chileans' tally this year to three.

QUAD | THREE-PEAT...

Newsflashes - 05/01 13:53 [GMT +3] - Car

The Challengers get their rally underway

“Chaleco” Lopez has just started in the Challenger class. For his 13th Dakar, the Chilean is aiming for victory by battling for first place from the very outset of the prologue. He is followed by Rokas Baciuška who was beaten on the very last stage last year in the SSV category.

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