Carlo de Gavardo Prohens (14 July 1969) is a Chile

Chile

Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

an motorist and motorcyclist who has participated in numerous rallies worldwide, including the Rallye Dakar and Rallye des Pharaons

Rallye des Pharaons

The Rallye des Pharaons is an FIM-sanctioned rally raid event that takes place in Egypt, with Cairo being both the start and finishing point at the foot of the pyramids of Giza, and covers roughly around 3,100 km. It is similar in format to the Dakar Rally in that it takes place in desert...

. He was the first Chilean motorcyclist to run the Paris-Dakar from beginning to end.

Beginning as a Pilot

Carlo de Gavardo received his elementary and high school education from the Craighouse School and Marshall School in Santiago. While he was studying in this last establishment he began his active participation in Chilean motorcycling, where he won the Enduro National Championship consecutively for almost a decade between 1986 and 1994. In 1993 he begins to expand his horizons and compete at an international level in the Enduro World Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this only increased his passion for the sport and fed his ambition. In 1996 he prepares to run the Paris – Dakar Rallye and becomes the first Chilean to finish the rally. On this occasion he is rewarded with a highly regarded seventeenth place. Carlo de Gavardo has participated in every Dakar since 1996 up until 2004, achieving his best result (a third place) in 2001.

Championships and Achievements

By 1997, he receives a fourth place in the Master Rallye: Paris – Moscow – Beijing and is recognized worldwide for the amazing skill shown while driving his motorcycle. In 2001, 2004, and 2005 he wins the Rallye World Cup of the International Motorcycling Federation. In 2004 and 2005 he became the World Motorcycling Champion in the 450 cc category.

Carlo de Gavardo has participated in the Atlas Rally, Two Sertoes, Master Rallye, Pharaohs Rally in Egypt, Dubai Rally, Las Pampas Rally in Argentina, Morocco Rally, and the Safari Rally.

Year	Championship	Achievement
1986–1993	Enduro Championship	Champion
1994	Enduro World Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma	Bronze Medal
1996	Paris-Dakar Rallye	First Chilean Motorcyclist to run
1996	International Olympic Committee	Fair Play Award
1997	Master Rallye Paris-Moscow-Beijing	Fourth Place
2001	Paris-Dakar Rallye	Third Place
2004–2005	Motorcycling Championship	World Champion in the 450cc category.
2006	Paris-Lisboa Rally	Fifth Place
2007	Pharaohs Rally	Seventh Place, First Place Diesel Category

Fair Play

Carlo de Gavardo has been privileged with the Fair Play award twice, given once by International Olympic Committee and the second time by the International Motorcycling Federation.

Some of his non-sporting activities include an alliance with the Chilean Police force with the objective of reducing the amount of traffic accidents involving motorcycles. The coalition stretches from Arica to Punta Arenas with the sole purpose of creating responsible drivers through courses that help teach many motorcycle owners what they need to know about safety and being precautious.

The Transition from 2 wheels to 4

There is a growing tendency among motorcyclists, including Stéphane Peterhansel y Nani Roma, when they reach a point in their careers in which they exchange their motorcycles for a larger vehicle. Carlo announced his retirement from motorcycles as to continue competing as a motorist. He began to compete in this category during 2008, and in 2009 participated in the Dakar with Hummer. This transition was a personal and professional choice for this well-known Chilean idol.