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

While American participation was historically limited, 2025 marks the strongest U.S. presence ever at the prestigious rally. The journey began in 1996 when Rod and Chad Hall became the first all-American team to finish the event in their Hummers, placing fourth and fifth in class.

Robby Gordon made history in 2005 as the first American to win stages in the car division. Darren Skilton's influence grew through the Sonora Rally in Mexico, which became a crucial training ground for American competitors.

The real breakthrough came in 2020 when Ricky Brabec and Casey Currie became the first Americans to win Dakar titles in the motorcycle and UTV categories respectively. Brabec repeated his victory in 2024 and returns in 2025 alongside fellow American Skylar Howes at Monster Energy Honda.

Ford makes its presence known with the new Raptor T1, featuring American Mitch Guthrie Jr. among its drivers. Seth Quintero, who made his debut at just 18 years old, competes in the Unlimited Car class with Toyota Gazoo Racing.

The SSV division showcases strong American talent:

• Brock Heger, recent SCORE Baja 1000 UTV champion, with Sebastien Loeb Racing Polaris
• Sara Price, the first American woman to win a Dakar stage, competing in a Monster Energy Can-Am
• Additional entries include Corbin Leaverton and the Lumsdens in the Challenger division

With 4,000+ hours of television coverage reaching 190 countries, the 2025 Dakar Rally represents America's strongest showing in the event's history, demonstrating the nation's growing influence in international rally racing.

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