Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah from Qatar is set to be a favorite in the upcoming Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. The rally, which will take place from January 3-19, will feature fifty registered FIA World Rally-Raid Championship contenders, making it one of the most difficult ever Dakar rallies. Al Attiyah, the defending W2RC champion, and his co-driver Edouard Boulanger will be driving the new Dacia Sandrider, with hopes of securing a fourth successive title.
The rally will kick off with a Prologue stage near Bisha, followed by 12 challenging desert stages covering 5,145 competitive kilometers in a total distance of 7,753km. Toyota Gazoo Racing, the defending W2RC Manufacturers’ champions, will face tough competition from teams like Dacia and Ford M-Sport. The X-raid Mini team will be focusing on the Drivers’ Championship, while BBR Motorsport, the G Rally Team, and X-Raid will be battling it out in the Challenger category. Additionally, the Can-Am Factory Team will be facing competition from Polaris in the SSV class.
Sebastien Loeb, a nine-time WRC champion, will be looking to finally secure a Dakar Rally victory. Driving a second car alongside Cristina Gutierrez and navigator Fabian Lurquin, Loeb finished second to Al Attiyah in the Rally of Morocco. With a total of 24 entrants in the Ultimate W2RC category, including vehicles from Dacia Sandrider, Ford Raptors, X-Raid Minis, and Toyota Hiluxes, the competition is set to be fierce. Other teams like MD Optimus and Century Racing will also be vying for top honors.
Defending the W2RC Manufacturers’ title for the fourth time poses a challenge for Toyota Gazoo Racing, with Yazeed Al Rajhi, Lucas Moraes, and Seth Quintero leading the charge in the latest Toyota Hilux. The Mini team will be represented by Guillaume de Mévius and Denis Krotov, while Carlos Sainz, a four-time event winner, will be competing with Team Audi Sport. In the SSV category, defending champion Yasir Seaidan has switched to Team BBR, partnering with French navigator Michael Metge.
Notable entries in the Challenger category include Nicolas Cavigliasso, Dania Akeel, and Pau Navarro, all aiming for a podium finish. Cavigliasso, alongside navigator Valentina Pertegarini, will be looking to repeat their success in the Challenger category. The QMMF Team from Qatar has entered T3s for Khalifa Saleh Al Attiyah and Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, adding to the competition in the Challenger class. With a strong lineup of competitors across various categories, the 2025 Dakar Rally promises thrilling action and intense competition for both drivers and fans alike.
