The Dakar Rally is one of the most notoriously difficult and famous races on the planet; a spectacle full of varied terrain, hundreds of stories, and where the best of the best rally riders battle it out for supremacy. As we reach the halfway point of the 2021 edition, which began with a prologue on January 2nd, we’ve already seen some spectacular images, heard some fantastic stories and seen the tactics, fatigue and changing terrain challenge the riders.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price currently leads the standings going into the ‘rest day’, but in his words ‘there’s a long way to go’ with six more days of racing before the finish line, where riders will have completed a total of 12 stages and covered 7,646km in distance. Price’s teammates Sam Sunderland, Matthias Walkner and KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders will also be enjoying a day off their KTM 450 RALLY machines in preparation for the stages ahead. We took a look through some of this year’s incredible images so far…
To learn more and get deeper into the Dakar Rally check out The Dakar Dirt podcast, which takes listeners behind the scenes of the famous race and features interviews with riders past and present. The Dakar Dirt mini-series is available now on all popular podcast platforms with more episodes coming soon.
Matthias Walkner in the spectacular terrain during the opening stage of the 2021 Dakar Rally PC @RallyZone
Into the wilderness – Toby Price aboard his KTM 450 RALLY en-route to a stage three victory at the Dakar PC @RallyZone
Sam Sunderland tackles the terrain – this year’s Dakar event has already included a big variety of challenges for the riders PC @RallyZone
Rookie Daniel Sanders has impressed on his Dakar debut aboard his KTM 450 RALLY PC @RallyZone
Having won the previous day, Price had the difficult task of leading out the stage on day four of the rally PC @RallyZone
Sunderland in the bivouac – the base for the teams racing at the Dakar Rally – as he prepares for the day ahead PC @RallyZone
Walkner tackles the stony ground in style on Dakar stage four aboard his KTM 450 RALLY PC @RallyZone
If you look closely enough you’ll see Toby Price – the vast desert ensures the navigation is tough with riders using a roadbook with simple directions to find their way across the terrain PC @RallyZone
Another cool picture in the rocks as Sunderland keeps the throttle on whilst navigating his way through PC @RallyZone
KTM Factory Racing Rally team manager Jordi Viladoms, a former Dakar racer, advises Sanders during his second ever rally PC @RallyZone
Walkner blasts through the sand as one of the organization helicopters follows PC @RallyZone
Price tackles the rocks on stage five – the variation of obstacles requires skill and concentration for the long days of Dakar PC @RallyZone
Sunderland excels in the sand and enjoys the desert aboard his KTM 450 RALLY PC @RallyZone
Price leads the rally after stage six and heading into the ‘rest day’ after a consistent performance PC @RallyZone
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