The move marks a significant milestone for the rising star from Leiria, who continues to solidify his reputation as one of the most promising young talents in international cross-country rallying.
Despite his young age, João Ferreira has already secured national and international titles — including victories in the FIA European and World Cups for Bajas — and claimed a remarkable eighth place overall at the 2025 Dakar Rally. Now, with this new chapter, Ferreira sees a prime opportunity to take his development to the next level and establish himself among the elite in the discipline.
“This is a new phase in my career and a project that represents a major challenge,” said Ferreira. “Toyota Gazoo Racing is a benchmark in rally raid, and I’m extremely motivated to grow within this structure. The goal is clear: to continue building on the solid foundation I’ve laid, always give my best, and fight for wins.”
Ferreira will continue to be co-driven by Filipe Palmeiro, maintaining the trusted partnership that has powered many of his recent successes.
Ferreira’s debut behind the wheel of the Toyota Hilux T1+ is set for this weekend at the Rayton–Bronkhorstspruit 400, a round of the South African Rally-Raid Championship. This will be his first competitive outing with both the car and the team, offering an ideal environment for adaptation and preparation.
His official international debut with Toyota is scheduled for late July at the Baja Aragón in Spain — one of the most prestigious events on the FIA World Cup for Bajas calendar — where he’ll go head-to-head with some of the sport’s biggest names.
The entire technical and logistical side of Ferreira’s program will be handled by SVR Racing, ensuring he has everything needed to stay competitive at the highest level. SVR boasts an elite track record, with overall wins at the Dakar Rally in 2019, 2022, and 2023, along with World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) titles in 2022, 2023, and 2024 — a testament to their excellence at the very top of the sport.
Official press release
