Editor’s note: LeDuc’s wife, Amber, offered clarification that LeDuc suffered from cardiac arrest and did not, in fact, lose his battle with cancer.
Off-road racing legend Kyle LeDuc has died. He was 42.
LeDuc fought stage four head and neck cancer since last November, making his diagnosis public at the start of June when he declared he would be sitting out of the 2023 season to focus on his recovery. He remained optimistic of recovering though, regularly posting Instagram updates from his workshop as he aimed to return to the track.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Championship Off-Road said: “It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the news that seven-time Pro 4 champion Kyle LeDuc has passed away after a year-long battle with cancer.
“LeDuc remains a legend in the off-road world and one of the winningest drivers in short-course history, including the 2020 Championship Off-Road Pro 4 title. He was a passionate champion and intense competitor whose infectious energy will be missed on and off the track.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the LeDuc family and everyone at Kyle LeDuc 99 Racing.”
LeDuc hailed from an off-road racing dynasty, the son of Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Famer and Dakar veteran Curt LeDuc and brother to multiple champion and Pro 2 and Class 8 champion Todd.
Across his career, LeDuc notched up seven Pro 4 championships – six in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and one in the more recently-formed Championship Off-Road series, plus a pair of Pro Lite titles, three Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series challenge cups, two Pro 4 world championships and two LOORRS driver of the year titles. All-in-all, he had over 100 race victories.
In 2022 LeDuc finished runner-up to C.J. Greaves in the Championship Off-Road Pro 4 series, denying him an eighth crown in the category, while in the international arena he helped Chip Ganassi Racing to its first Extreme E round win alongside Sara Price in Sardinia.
Le Duc is survived by his wife Amber and their two children.