Everything you need to know about Dakar Rally 2025

The Dakar Rally is no ordinary race. A unique and gruelling event, it combines elements of adventure, endurance, and motorsport to create one of the most challenging off-road races in the world.

From navigating treacherous terrains to overcoming mechanical breakdowns, the Dakar tests both the physical and mental limits of its competitors.

What is the Dakar Rally?

At its core, the Dakar Rally is a cross-country endurance race where drivers push their all-terrain vehicles (ATVs, cars, trucks, and bikes) to the absolute limits. Each day, competitors drive on public roads to the start of that day's special stage, a timed segment that takes them off the beaten path and into some of the most unforgiving landscapes on Earth.

The race doesn’t just demand speed; it calls for versatility, mechanical ingenuity, and an unparalleled level of fitness. Over 1,000 kilometers in a single day is not uncommon, and punctures, breakdowns, and navigational mistakes are frequent. A solid mechanical knowledge and an essential toolkit are a competitor’s best friends when disaster strikes.

Where and when is the 2025 Dakar Rally taking place?

For 2025, the rally takes place in Saudi Arabia once again, with the race set to cover a staggering 7,700 kilometers over 14 days. The starting line will be in Bisha on January 3, 2025, where the competitors will begin their long and exhausting journey. By January 17, the rally will come to a thrilling conclusion in Shubaytah, located deep within the Empty Quarter desert, one of the harshest and most mysterious landscapes in the world.

This year, the rally promises even more excitement with massive sand dunes, a 48-hour Chrono Stage exceeding 1,000 km, and unpredictable terrain changes that will keep both participants and spectators on the edge of their seats.

Route

• Prologue Stage (Bisha, Jan 3): The event kicks off with a high-speed 29 km prologue that sets the tone for the competition.
• 48-hour Chrono Stage: This brutal test, part of the first week, spans over 1,000 km, pushing drivers to their limits.
• Marathon Stage: Just days into the rally, competitors will face a grueling 48-hour endurance stage, which is an extreme test of both driver and machine.
• Rest day (Hail, Jan 10): After the intense first week, racers will get a much-needed rest in Hail, but the calm will be short-lived.
• The Empty Quarter: In the second week of the rally, the desert sands of the Empty Quarter will become the ultimate battleground. This vast expanse of dunes, with towering sand dunes as high as 250 meters, is where the race will be won or lost. Here, the most strategic, skillful, and lucky racers will stand a chance to claim victory.

Key competitors

The Dakar Rally has always attracted the best off-road racers in the world, and 2025 is no exception. The competition will feature some of the sport's most legendary figures, alongside promising newcomers and fresh faces.

• Carlos Sainz and Nasser Al-Attiyah, two Dakar royalty, will face off once again, bringing with them brand-new machines that could make all the difference. Sainz will race in a Ford Raptor T1+, while Al-Attiyah will bring his Dacia Sandrider into the battle, adding an extra layer of intrigue to their ongoing rivalry.

• A new generation of racers is also on the rise, with Seth Quintero (only 22 years old) leading the charge for a first-ever Dakar win.
• Meanwhile, the off-road community is buzzing with the debut of Toby Price and Sam Sunderland, two world-class motorcycle champions, who have swapped their bikes for a Toyota Hilux, a significant move that will surely shake up the rally dynamic.
• Cristina Gutiérrez is another standout. She has the chance to make history as the first woman to win the Dakar twice, a feat that would cement her legacy in motorsport history.
• The Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team will also be racing in their very first Dakar, bringing fresh talent to the table and adding to the unpredictability of the event.

The 2025 Dakar Rally will be a relentless test of speed, stamina, strategy, and survival. With a route that combines everything from vast sand dunes to rocky terrains and navigational challenges, only the most adaptable and determined racers will make it to the finish line in Shubaytah.