Price keen to make Dakar chance count
Ahead of the Baja 1000 and following the news that Toby Price will take on the 2025 Dakar Rally in a Toyota T1+ four wheeler, he says that the nature of the beast means that chances can be few and far between.
The 47th edition of the legendary race – set to held in Saudi Arabia for a sixth straight year – could potentially (fingers crossed it isn’t) be the two-time winners last outing in Dakar, and knows that the effort to make it to the 2025 running in a top class T1+ was a monumental (and ongoing) funding effort.
Price and Sunderland will pilot a Toyota T1+ prepared by Overdrive Racing in the 2025 Dakar Rally
Price will team up with fellow two-time bikes Dakar winner Sam Sunderland I the Overdrive Racing Toyota, with the Brit acting as navigator – and he explained recently that he’s still in a state of shock, and that it could be his one and only chance to tackle Dakar on four wheels.
“Still in shock we will be on the start line in the Dakar Rally in one of these beasts (Toyota T1+),” Price explained on his socials.
“The response was amazing from everyone around the world and it’s greatly appreciated. It’s been testing times and a lot of work to make this happen, and had some amazing new partners come onboard to raise the money needed to get this opportunity (actually still short on this but we are close).
“The first time making a switch to cars only happens once, so will show all we can in the lead up and what it takes which will make a cool story.
“And best thing is I get to take a good mate Sam Sunderland alongside me which will make it more entertaining.
“This could be my/our one and only chance to make it happen as funding is never easy to come by, but ready to do the work and make it count. Nothing is impossible, I remember my first Dakar on a bike and only had 2-3 months with no experience to be ready and finished third! So it’s possible. We just need to be smart and make it happen.”
Price recently took part in the Working Dog Rally in Bonobo, NSW, getting all the four wheel driving in he can.
Price made the switch after his KTM bikes contract wasn’t renewed past the 2024 Dakar, with the former World Rally Bikes champion and prolific Finke Desert winner out for a new challenge in the worlds greatest race.
On November 12-17, Price and Paul Weel are preparing to again take on the harsh Mexican terrain in a Mason Trophy Truck for the Baja 1000, with the pair having had a great year in the SCORE International, having won the Baja 500 in June.
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