LinkECU at Paris-Dakar 2025

The 2025 Paris-Dakar Rally is a crucial testing ground for Electronic Control Units (ECUs) due to its extreme conditions. ECUs must perform reliably in high temperatures, dust, vibrations, and unpredictable terrain, making the rally an ideal real-world stress test for automotive electronics.

The journey to Dakar for GMC Sport in collaboration with Be Racing and Link started five years ago with the vision of testing a Link ECU capable of enduring such extreme conditions. For the past three years, Link's Technical Support team have worked closely with all involved with the team's CAN-AM MAVERICK XRS TURBO RR, providing support and CAN decoding expertise, all with the goal of making this race a reality.

Simply finishing the Dakar Rally is a major accomplishment. As one of the toughest endurance races in the world, it pushes both vehicles and drivers to their limits through harsh terrain, mechanical stress, and navigation challenges. Many competitors fail to reach the finish line due to breakdowns, crashes, or exhaustion, making completion a true test of durability and engineering excellence.

This project not only made it to the finish line, but placed 12th in the category at Dakar 2025, which is an outstanding achievement. The car endured 77 hours of racing across some of the world's harshest landscapes, battling intense heat, mechanical stress, and relentless competition. With many vehicles failing to finish, placing 12th proves the team’s resilience, reliability, and competitive edge in one of motorsport’s most grueling events.

GMC Sport is now aiming to extend its installation of Link ECUs into other Dakar cars, and complete further development to make installation even easier.

Driver, Sebastian Guayasamin, along with the team and the engine tuner, noticed a big improvement on the torque and power using the Link ECU vs many of the competition. They did not experience any ECU limp mode events during the race which is fairly common in the Paris-Dakar race.

We congratulate everyone involved on their success and look forward to seeing more Link-equipped tackle Dakar in the near future!

Engine Tuner & LinkECU Reseller: Gerard Murgadella, GMC Sport

Team: Be Racing

Driver: Sebastian Guayasamin 

Co Driver: Fer Acosta