The Dakar Rally, the world’s premier cross-country rally event, will remain in Saudi Arabia for a sixth consecutive year in 2025, but the organizers have plans to inject more excitement into the proceedings. The rally will heavily feature the Empty Quarter, also known as Rub’ al Khali, during the final three stages, with a revamped format that includes the return of the Chrono Stage and concurrent starts for cars, bikes, and trucks.

In a surprising turn of events, German manufacturer Audi has been slapped with a hefty €750,000 fine for abruptly shutting down its cross-country rally program after just one season. The decision, which was deemed to be ‘harming the image’ of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, serves as a cautionary tale for manufacturers in the high-stakes world of Dakar Rally and cross-country racing.

The organizers of the Dakar Rally have reduced the top speed for the Truck category in the 2025 event, from 140 km/h to 135 km/h, citing safety reasons. This decision has sparked controversy, with the defending Truck class champion expressing his displeasure. The change aims to address the speed difference between trucks and smaller vehicles, but the drivers argue it will put them at a disadvantage. Despite the setback, the 2025 Dakar Rally promises to be an exciting event with the continued participation of the top contenders.

Dacia’s new Sandrider off-road racer has entered its intensive testing phase, with the factory lineup of Nasser Al-Attiyah, Cristina Gutiérrez, and Sébastien Loeb driving and developing the car at various locations in the UK, Wales, and France. The team is focused on meticulously fine-tuning the Sandrider’s performance ahead of its competition debut at the Rallye du Maroc in October and the highly anticipated 2024 Dakar Rally.