Price to chase Dakar history in 2025
Australia’s Toby Price will make a massive career switch in 2025 when he tackles the legendary Dakar Rally on four wheels for the first time.
Price has already cemented himself as a Dakar legend, being the first and only Australian to win the iconic rally raid event in 2016 and 2019.
He has competed in each of the last 10 Dakar Rally events with KTM in the motorbikes category and finished fifth this year.
But Price found himself at a crossroads after his contract with the factory KTM squad was not renewed this year.
As a result, Price has chosen now as the right moment to make the big switch from two to four wheels.
The 37-year-old will team up with former teammate and fellow two-time Dakar bikes winner Sam Sunderland, who will be the navigator.
Toby Price on the bike ta Dakar 2024. Image: Marcelo Maragni / Red Bull Content Pool
The pair hope to join Hubert Auriol, Stephane Peterhansel and Nani Roma as the only competitors to win the Dakar in both a car and bike.
Price has no shortage of experience driving in rallies, having won the Finke Desert Race in the Cars category three times in a row.
More impressively he teamed up with former Supercars driver Paul Weel to win the Baja 500 in a Mason.
Price also recently had a first taste of a gravel rally at the Working Dog Rally.
He and Sunderland will drive a Toyota T1+ Hilux run by Belgian outfit Overdrive Racing.
“I am super excited to announce that we are going to Dakar in January with Overdrive Racing and going to jump in a T1+ car and see what we can do,” Price said.
“The other good news is that I’ll be teaming up with a good mate of mine, Sammy Sunderland, who will sit alongside me and we’ll see what we can come up with. It’s going to be super exciting and a lot of hard work for us.
“A big thanks to Blackrock Motor Resort, they have really come to the table to make this work and hopefully we can do the job.”
Overdrive Racing team principal Jean Marc Fortin believes the two Dakar Rally car category rookies will be “very formidable.”
“This is one of the most exciting driver pairings we at Overdrive Racing have announced since the team’s inception in 2006,” he said.
“To have four-time Dakar Rally Champions Toby Price and Sam Sunderland in the same car is nothing short of sensational and is a project that we are incredibly thrilled about.
“We’re confident in Price’s skill behind the wheel, and Sam’s experience with navigation in the bikes category makes this pairing very formidable.
Toby Price competes in the 2024 SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, Mexico. image: Art Eugenio / Red Bull Content Pool
“This is very exciting news for the Dakar Rally, and equipped with an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux, we believe that a great result is possible for these two drivers and collectively that’s what we will be aiming towards.”
Brit Sunderland is also looking forward to the new experience.
“Me and Pricey are heading to Dakar. Even to say it out loud sounds pretty wild,” he said.
Toby Price in action at the Working Dog Rally.
“I remember the days in Dakar, we’d sit in the camp after a long, rough day on the bike chatting about how nice it would be sat in a car.
“It always seemed pretty far-fetched but here we are. Super grateful for all the boys that have put some effort into getting this across the line/
“It’s a massive help for us and something that I’m really grateful for and hopefully we can do it justice.”
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