DAKAR 2025: HOW TO WATCH & WHO TO WATCH FOR
All eyes will be on the UTV’s the year. Challenger (T3) and SSV (T4) will be the names of those classes for 2025. Challenger machines are a bit heavier and slower than the more exotic SSV machines. However both classes are very restricted as to not challenge the open cars for the overall race win. Yet we are excited to see all of the Americans this year in two and four wheel classes.
After a close race and a narrow victory in 2024 by Xavier De Soultrait driving a Polaris RZR Pro R Factory, the Can-Am team is wanting the crown back. This year, Can-Am has once again tapped South Racing and American driver Sara Price to bring the attention to the brand. Plus Texas native Hunter Miller will fly the Can-Am colors in Saudi Arabia for his first time. Both drivers along with former Dakar champion Francisco Cheleco Lopez and Jeremias Gonzalez will be racing the Can-Am Maverick R coming up in January. We will also see father and son duo Craig and Zachary Lumsden from Colorado Motorsport both racing Can-Am X3’s under the South Racing tent.
Corbin Leaverton will also be traveling to the land of sand this year and will be competing for Red Bull in a T3 Max machine similar to what Seth Quintero and Mitch Guthrie used to pilot before stepping up into the open car classes with the help of Red Bull, Ford and Toyota. Expect Corbin to go for as many stage wins as possible.
Don’t forget Polaris as reigning champion Xavier De Soultrait will be back and hot shoe Brock Heger will be attempting his first Dakar with co driver Max Eddy. Together the two Polaris drivers along with the powerhouse Sebastian Loeb Racing team are ready to bring Polaris the 2025 title anyway they can.
Unfortunately two other Americans that were signed up, Pablo Copetti (former quad racer) and Larry Janesky had to withdraw recently , however both vow to take on Dakar in 2026. We will be watching, will you?
WHO TO WATCH FOR?
T3 #325, Corbin Leverton, Red Bull T3 Max, California
Taye Perry, navigator
T4, #405, Sara Price, Can-Am Maverick R, Arizona
Sean, Berriman navigator
T4, #420 Hunter Miller, Can-Am Maverick R, Texas
Andrew Short navigator
T4, #425 Brock Heger, Polaris RZR Pro R Factory, California
Max Eddy, navigator
T3, #337 Craig Lumsden, Can-Am Maverick X3, Colorado
Jamie Lambert, navigator
T3, #332 Zachary Lumsden, Can-Am Maverick X3, Colorado
Shannon Moham, navigator
Other U.S. Drivers/Riders competing
Seth Quintero, California, Unlimited Cars
Mitch Guthrie Jr/Kellon Welch., California, Unlimited Cars
Ricky Brebec, California, Moto
Skyler Howes, Utah, Moto
Mason Kline, California, Moto
HOW TO WATCH?
The Can-Am and Polaris factory drivers will start the 12-day, 5000-mile race on January 3, 2025 in Bisha,
Saudi Arabia, and the winner will be crowned on January 17, 2025, in Shubaytah, Saudi Arabia.
Follow along on our social media channels for updates throughout the race.
Daily Dakar reports from the race organizer can be found at www.dakar.com as well same day coverage from MavTV on cable and streaming in the U.S. as well as on the Motorsports ON NBC YouTube page below https://www.youtube.com/@MotorsportsonNBC/videos
You can also find an ongoing story on the Red Bull Content Pool HERE that will include race results from each stage, along with athlete quotes and accompanying photos and videos. In addition, Red Bull is planning a few feature articles you can read though the daily Red Bull Desert Wings Newsletter, which will feature more detailed updates and insights into the racing. Feel free to sign up here: https://signup.redbullmotorsports.com/
Polaris has been documenting the 2025 DAKAR journey the entire way through a video series called Tough Doesn’t Quit: Defending Dakar series, you can see each episode below.
Finally, Red Bull will also be posting videos across their YouTube Channels:
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