Ford wants to «own» rallying with factory Dakar programme
Ford says it wants to “own” the world of rallying as it adds a factory programme in the Dakar Rally in 2025. The American marque already has a strong presence in off-road competition thanks to a semi-factory team in the World Rally Championship and official entries in Baja 1000 and Finke Desert Race in Australia, […]
Ogier was «never really attracted much» by Dakar as he rules out future outing
World Rally Championship star Sebastien Ogier has ruled out taking part in the Dakar Rally in the future, saying he has “never been really attracted” by the prospect of competing in the cross-country event. Ogier stepped down from WRC as a full-timer at the end of the 2021 season but continues to compete in a […]
Dates, route, new features and more revealed
In a presentation on Saturday, it was announced that the 2025 Dakar Rally will kick off on 3 January from Bisha and conclude on the 17th of the same month in Shubaytah, two places that are already familiar to existing competitors. Rally director David Castera has engineered an event that seeks balance in order to maintain […]
Ford signs Carlos Sainz Sr to lead Dakar Rally programme in 2025
Sainz and double event winner Nani Roma will be two of the four drivers to represent Ford in the prestigious Dakar event in Saudi Arabia next year, with its remaining line-up to be announced at a later date. This would mark the Spanish driver’s fourth stint with the American auto giant, having periodically competed with […]
KTM drops two-time Dakar winner Toby Price from factory programme
The 36-year-old said in a social media post on Tuesday that KTM had decided not to renew his contract following the 46th running of Dakar in January. «KTM has decided to not renew my contract so Dakar 2024 was my last event with them… I do feel like I’m still in my prime and going […]
WRC and Dakar winner Kenjiro Shinozuka dies aged 75
Shinozuka shot to fame by becoming the first Japanese driver to claim outright victories in both the WRC and the gruelling Dakar Rally. Born in Tokyo, Shinozuka’s greatest success came as a factory Mitsubishi driver. In 1988, he claimed the inaugural Asia-Pacific championship alongside co-driver Fred Gocentas. The pair took the title scoring a solitary […]
Audi could face €750,000 fine for exiting World Rally-Raid after Dakar
The German manufacturer was due to see out its third and final season in the FIA-sanctioned series as part of its much-touted cross-country programme with the RS Q e-tron hybrid. However, just a month after scoring a maiden win in the prestigious Dakar marathon in Saudi Arabia in January, Audi announced that it would be […]