Dakar Rally To Race On From January 3-17, 2025

From Bisha To Shubaytah In Saudi Arabia

The 2025 edition of the Dakar Rally is beginning to take shape, with Saudi Arabia once again hosting the iconic event. This promises to be another thrilling chapter in the storied history of the Dakar Rally.

Scheduled to run from January 3 to 17, 2025, the sixth edition of the Dakar in Saudi Arabia will feature a challenging course stretching from Bisha to Shubaytah, offering competitors and rally raid fans a thrilling adventure across varied terrain.

Registration for the 2025 Dakar is now open.

David Castera, Race Director of the Dakar Rally, presented the outline of the 47th edition to 700 Dakar enthusiasts at the Les Comes off-road circuit near Barcelona on May 18, 2024.

Following this unveiling, the Dakar Tour is set to embark on a global journey, reaching out to rally-raid aficionados in countries such as South Africa, Italy, Argentina, Mexico, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands in the coming weeks.

Notably, the 2025 Dakar promises to be one of the most formidable competitors. It will introduce the 48-hour chrono, a traditional marathon stage, and a three-day adventure through the Empty Quarter, culminating in the race’s conclusion in Shubaytah.

The teams behind the 2025 Dakar have spared no effort in crafting a challenging course. Plans for separate courses for at least five specials and multiple loop stages ensure a test of skill and endurance for all participants.

Bivouac In Bisha

The pre-race gathering in Bisha has become an event in its own right, where competitors make final adjustments and undergo technical and administrative scrutineering.

This year marks the third consecutive season that the base camp is located away from urban centres, with meticulous attention given to its design and atmosphere. The start camp in Bisha will host the finish line of the prologue for the first time, adding to the event’s excitement.

48-Hour Chrono Evolution

A highlight of the Dakar, the 48-hour chrono returns in 2025 with a revamped format. Covering a distance of 950km and traversing diverse terrain, this challenge will unfold over two days, offering ample opportunities for competitors to showcase their skills and strategic prowess.

Safety And Competition

To improve safety and competition dynamics, at least five stages of the 2025 Dakar will feature separate courses, reducing the need for cars to overtake motorcycles.

This move also places car crews at the forefront of the field, challenging them to navigate without the aid of riders’ tracks. Additionally, truckers will have their separate course in one of the stages held in the Empty Quarter.

Testing Endurance

The traditional marathon stage will test competitors’ endurance, as they will be without their service teams. Covering a distance of over 800km, this stage will push top contenders and amateurs to their limits as they strive to maintain their vehicles and secure the coveted “finisher” status.

The Grand Finale

Shubaytah, the gateway to the vast Empty Quarter, will again serve as the backdrop for Dakar’s finale. After three days of gruelling competition through chotts and dunes, competitors will converge on this desert outpost for a spectacular conclusion to their journey amidst the breathtaking expanse of sand.

A Nostalgic Tribute

In a nod to the rally’s rich history, the Dakar Classic welcomes a new generation of ‘vintage’ vehicles, with cars and trucks registered between 2000 and 2005 now eligible to participate. This inclusion offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane, with iconic cars from the early 2000s set to make their mark on the classic rally.

Shaping The Future

Building on the success of Mission 1000, which provided a platform for cutting-edge alternative technologies, Dakar continues to push the boundaries of innovation with the return of this desert laboratory in 2025. With an expanding roster of projects aimed at shaping the future of rally raids, Dakar remains at the forefront of technological advancement in motorsport.

Featured image: Team Bahrain Raid Xtreme in a Prodrive Hunter, in action, during Stage 8 of the 2024 Dakar on January 15, 2024, in Saudi Arabia. Credit: A.S.O./A. Vincent/DPPI