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 round.
• 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 an electrical problem saw him finish in 5th place.
• The 2025 Dakar saw Joao and his co-driver Filipe Palmeiro and finish a highly credible 8th overall in their T1+ Repsol 100% Renewable Fuels powered X-Raid Mini.
• Then, during the 2025 summer break, all their hard work was rewarded when it was announced that Joao and Filipe would be joining Toyota Gazoo Racing factory team.
• Since then the duo have won the Baja Aragon (ahead of Nasser Al Attiyah) and the Baja Portalegre (by over 10 minutes), taken 2 stage wins on the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal and rounded off the season with a 4th place overall on the Rallye du Maroc.