“Four Dakar titles in the same car: pretty cool!”
CREW FACTS…
T.P.
- A new chapter begins. After 10 Dakars on a motorbike, Toby Price has switched to four wheels. Already quite drawn to cars, the non-renewal of his contract with the KTM team hastened the transition. On the 2025 Dakar, the Australian will be behind the wheel of one of the best cars: a Toyota Hilux prepared by Overdrive.
- In 2015, this young Australian with the build of a third-row centre arrived at the rally like a UFO. At the time, the native of Hilston in New South Wales was a global unknown. Known for his speed, he quickly learnt the intricacies of navigation without ever breaking down on his way to an impressive third-place finish. A year later, as a member of the factory KTM team, Price more than confirmed his status when he became the first Australian in any category to win the Dakar.
- His second victory in Lima in 2019 is proof of his courage in the face of suffering, this time due to a bruised wrist, and during his career, he has visited many hospitals around the world.
- In ten Dakars, Price has six podium finishes and eight top-10 results, including his final finish of 5th last year on his adieux to the category. The 37-year-old racer has already enjoyed a successful career on four wheels, winning the Finke Desert Race in Australia three times and competing in several events across the Atlantic, including the famous Baja 1000 in a supercharged PickUp.
- So, it's in a slightly less imposing vehicle that he will set off on the Dakar. He will be joined by another former two-time winner of the rally on a motorbike: his former British teammate Sam Sunderland
S.S.
- Last July, Sam Sunderland announced his decision to end his rally-raid career with a moving message on social networks. He probably didn't know then that he would return to the Dakar, this time in a car.
- His motorbike career has been crowned with major titles (two Dakar victories in 2016 and 2022) but has also been littered with setbacks. In 11 Dakar participations, the Southampton-born Briton has retired seven times, often due to a crash.
- An avid cyclist, Sunderland has tackled some of the Tour de France's most famous mountain passes in recent years when he's not on his mountain bike in Andorra, where he lives. Now, he is about to embark on a new adventure alongside his friend and former rival, Toby Price.
- For this Ultimate challenge, the 35-year-old rookie driver has minimal experience in the passenger seat, with just a brief stint in the Hilux during testing in Dubai in late November. He will draw on his mechanic experience and navigation skills to excel on the Saudi Arabian tracks.
AMBITION 2025
T.P.: "KTM decided not to renew my contract, so the Dakar 2024 was my last event with them. I felt I was still on top form and fighting for victory, especially on the Dakar, so it's a shame not to have that opportunity in 2025. I'm genuinely grateful for the support they've given me during my career. We've done great things together, like winning two Dakars and an FIM World Championship title.
I'm super excited to announce that we will be on the starting line of the 2025 Dakar Rally in a car. Teaming up with Overdrive Racing in a T1+ car is a dream come true, and it's an opportunity for which I'm so grateful and intend to maximise. It's taken a lot of work since March to get everything in place, and it's surreal that it's finally coming to fruition. I'll be teaming up with my good friend Sam Sunderland, who will make it four Dakar winners in one car. It's a great story, and we intend to fight hard for the win."
S.S.: "It is with gratitude, humility and some sadness, but with no regrets, that I have announced my retirement from motorbike racing after a career I once dreamed of. It has been an incredible journey, from my two world titles to my two Dakar victories. I was delighted to announce that Price and I will compete in the Dakar in a Toyota T1+ car for 2025! To be able to say that out loud is pretty crazy. I remember the days at the Dakar when we'd sit in the camper van after a long, hard day on the bike, discussing how nice it would be to be in a car with a seatbelt and some air conditioning. It still seemed unrealistic. It's time to get to work for January!
I am super excited to be back in Dakar in a car. In English, they say, 'With age comes a cage', and of course, I'm delighted to have a seatbelt and a roll bar around me. I'm pretty sure I will get a good result. Clearly, that's vague, of course. But I'm confident in Toby's ability to drive well and mine to navigate well. I hope it all goes according to plan."
