Thanks to a longstanding New Year's tradition, the 47th Dakar Rally kicks off with 335 vehicles and 580 participants from 52 nations, marking the first major international motorsports event of 2025.

While American desert racing expertise initially struggled to make its mark at Dakar, 2025 showcases unprecedented U.S. participation and success. The journey began with Rod and Chad Hall's groundbreaking 1996 finish in Hummers, followed by Robby Gordon's stage wins in 2005 and Darren Skilton's pioneering efforts in international rally racing.

The real breakthrough came in 2020 when Ricky Brabec and Casey Currie became the first Americans to win their respective categories - Brabec in motorcycles and Currie in UTVs. Brabec continued his success with another title in 2024.

The 2025 edition features strong American representation across all categories:

Motorcycles:

• Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda)
• Skylar Howes (6th Dakar)
• Mason Klein
• Jason Argubright

Cars:

• Mitch Guthrie Jr. (Ford Raptor T1)
• Seth Quintero (Toyota Gazoo Racing)

SSV/UTV:

• Brock Heger (Sebastien Loeb Racing Polaris)
• Sara Price (Monster Energy Can-Am) - first American woman to win a Dakar stage
• Corbin Leaverton
• Zachary Lumsden
• Craig Lumsden

Notable developments include Ford's entry with the advanced Raptor T1 vehicle and increased American presence in technical and support roles. With comprehensive coverage across 190 countries, including Peacock and MAVTV in the U.S., the 2025 Dakar Rally represents America's strongest showing in the event's history.

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