2024 Dakar Rally: From The Checkered Flag’s Newsroom

After two weeks of action, the forty-sixth Dakar Rally has come and gone and the 2024 World Rally-Raid Championship is officially underway.

Missed any of our coverage? Here’s a nifty little archive of what we cooked up in the year leading up to and during the race.

Features

• INTERVIEW: Sara Price breaks down 2024 Dakar Rally ticket, Mexico triple (14 May 2023)
• INTERVIEW: Justin Gerlach pursues Dakar Rally dream (27 June 2023)
• INTERVIEW: João Ferreira “really, really looking forward” to new life at Can-Am (9 October 2023)
• The Checkered Flag‘s newcomer’s guide to rally raid (3 January)
• INTERVIEW: Alex Scheuerell breaks down Polaris’ 2024 Dakar challenger (13 January)

Pre-race stories

2023

• 20 January: TCF‘s 2023 Dakar Rally newsroom
• 25 January: Charan Moore to enter 2024 Dakar Rally, won’t defend Malle Moto title
• 25 January: Juan Puga plans Dakar Rally return, Malle Moto entry in 2024
• 28 January: Anja van Loon set for truck début in Morocco ahead of 2024 Dakar T5 entry
• 28 January: After near-fatal crash, CS Santosh envisions Dakar return in 2024
• 4 February: Carlos Llibre, ALL1 Dakar pursue Dakar 2024 in brother’s memory
• 17 February: Privateer-friendly WCT/TreasuryONE Toyota Hilux T1+ to run 2024 Dakar Rally
• 24 February: Red-Lined Motorsport launches REVO T1+
• 6 March: 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge: Tobias Ebster punches Dakar 2024 ticket with Rally2 win
• 8 March: Leo Larrauri plans Dakar return in 2024
• 9 March: Arturo Merzario to run 2024 Dakar Classic
• 13 March: Aliyyah and Yasmeen Koloc prepare off-road-heavy calendar for Dakar 2024
• 15 March: Javier Campos plans 2024 Dakar Rally début, may run Morocco
• 15 March: Eryk Goczał graduating to T3 for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 16 March: Armindo Araújo eyeing 2024 Dakar Rally début
• 18 March: Eduard Pons contesting rest of W2RC ahead of Dakar début in 2024
• 18 March: Juan Morera plans Dakar Classic defence in Porsche 959
• 21 March: KAMAZ’s Anton Shibalov: “Even those not in [T5] say, ‘It’s not so interesting without you.’”
• 23 March: Michele Bini plans Dakar 2024 entry with hometown Vicopisano
• 24 March: Jim Pearson eyes Dakar Rally return in 2024
• 24 March: Iader Giraldi set for Dakar Rally return in 2024
• 25 March: Jaap Bolk envisions bioethanol-powered, carbon-neutral 2024 Dakar Classic entry
• 29 March: Neels Theric becomes Kove factory rider
• 30 March: Student-run Ahúja Racing plans Dakar Rally entry
• 31 March: Franco Caimi departs Hero MotoSports
• 31 March: ASO mulling slight 2024 Dakar Rally delay
• 1 April: Carlos Sainz circles 4th Dakar win as final career goal
• 11 April: Nani Roma tests Ford Ranger T1+, Dakar 2024 lineup TBA
• 11 April: Audi’s 2024 Dakar Rally plans hinge on EoT
• 12 April: Maha Al-Hamali plans Dakar Rally début in 2024
• 13 April: Jatin Jain, Sebastián Olarte pursuing Dakar 2024 ticket at Sonora
• 15 April: Étienne Gélinas’ Dakar 2024 quest runs through Sonora
• 17 April: Cameron Thixton drops Dakar 2024 plans due to funding, still supporting brother Ashley
• 17 April: Dwain Barnard and Ronald Venter gear up for Sonora in Dakar 2024 pursuits
• 18 April: Ardit Kurtaj eyeing Dakar Rally début in 2024
• 22 April: Century Racing CR7 T1+ development underway, testing in July
• 27 April: Frédéric Chesneau to pilot Century CR6 at 2024 Dakar Rally
• 30 April: 2023 Sonora Rally: Sara Price clinches Dakar 2024 ticket in National Auto
• 30 April: 2023 Sonora Rally: Francisco Alvarez secures 2024 Dakar Rally entry
• 4 May: Nani Roma joining M-Sport Ford, Laia Sanz also in talks
• 7 May: Feryn Dakar Sport opts for 2024 Africa Eco Race over Dakar
• 11 May: Injuries sideline Manuel Lucchese for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 17 May: Jonathan Savel eyes Dakar Rally début in 2024
• 17 May: Thomas Kongshøj plans Dakar return in 2024 and beyond
• 2 June: Toyota Gazoo Racing Czech formed, Tomáš Ouředníček to race Dakar 2024
• 3 June: Barbora Holická taking a quack at 2024 Dakar Classic
• 3 June: Mathieu Dovèze joins BAS World KTM Racing Team
• 4 June: 14-day 2024 Dakar Rally introduces Chrono Stage
• 6 June: Team Audi Sport regroups for Dakar testing
• 9 June: Dakar Team Spierings partners with RaceArt for 2024
• 11 June: João Costa to race UMM Alter in 2024 Dakar Classic
• 12 June: Desert Endurance Motorsport bringing quartet to 2024 Dakar Classic
• 14 June: Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body begins Dakar 2024 testing
• 14 June: Kirsten Landman back for third Dakar Rally in 2024
• 17 June: TwinTrail Racing Team plans Dakar return in 2024
• 18 June: Nicolás Cavigliasso moves up to T3 for Argentina, Dakar 2024
• 21 June: Mohammed Al-Twaijri returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
• 27 June: Jayden Els wins Dakar 2024 registration in TGR 1000 Desert Race
• 28 June: FIA to grant EoT for Audi at Dakar 2024
• 28 June: Borja Pérez plans Rallye du Maroc entry for Dakar 2024
• 28 June: Dakar Rally’s port of departure moving to Barcelona
• 30 June: Iván Merichal plans Dakar Rally début in 2024 with tree-planting campaign
• 3 July: Pascal Thomasse to enter 5th decade of Dakar competition in 2024
• 5 July: Olaf Harmsen joins Gaia Motorsports as Jeffrey Otten’s navigator
• 11 July: Oran O’Kelly hopes to become first Irish Dakar rider in over a decade
• 12 July: Audi ending Dakar Rally programme after 2024
• 12 July: Guillaume de Mévius: Dakar 2024 will be “difficult, but nice”
• 12 July: Nani Roma, Gareth Woolridge to lead Ford Ranger T1+ assault
• 15 July: Jeremías Pascual enters Desafío Ruta 40 on Dakar 2024 mission
• 16 July: Benediktas Vanagas: Saudi Arabia “can have many different Dakars”, but “everyone wants to feel other countries” too
• 19 July: Croatian Rally Champion Juraj Šebalj to make Dakar début in 2024
• 20 July: Rafael Lesmes switching to truck, entering Dakar Classic in 2024
• 22 July: Sven Quandt open to continuing RS Q e-tron programme after Audi Dakar exit
• 25 July: ASO, FIM begin selecting 2024 Dakar Rally riders
• 25 July: ASO, FIM tweak 2024 Dakar Rally quad entry requirements
• 29 July: BFGoodrich bringing new tyre to 2024 Dakar Rally
• 1 August: TH-Trucks, CAP 4 Racing join forces for Polaris Dakar 2024 project
• 10 August: Ignacio Corcuera’s Dakar 2024 truck a former snowplow, firefighter trainer
• 4 September: 2023 Desafío Ruta 40: Juan José Semino, Juan Santiago Rostan win Dakar 2024 slots
• 5 September: Sebastián Halpern forgoing Rallye du Maroc, 2024 Dakar Rally
• 7 September: Janus van Kasteren, Michiel Becx return to Team de Rooy for Dakar 2024
• 13 September: Xavier Flick joins Kove Moto factory programme
• 21 September: Charlie Herbst to ride GasGas at 2024 Dakar Rally
• 24 September: Fabien Domas switches to GasGas for Morocco, Dakar 2024
• 4 October: Dakar Rally remains unavailable for MAZ, says Siarhei Viazovich
• 4 October: Rainbow Truck Team to race hydrogen-powered Amarok at 2024 Dakar Rally
• 6 October: Toby Price re-ups with Red Bull KTM for 2024
• 12 October: After shoulder injury, Henk Lategan focused on recovering for Dakar
• 12 October: André Thewessen returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
• 14 October: Dakarspeed pushes Dakar Rally return to 2025
• 17 October:Vaidotas Žala returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
• 18 October: Hino Team Sugawara returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
• 22 October: Toby Hederics, WiIlliam Grarre win Road to Dakar
• 23 October: Japanese auto giants to jointly field hydrogen car at 2024 Dakar Rally
• 23 October: Kamena Rally Team delays 2024 Dakar Rally plans
• 25 October: Andrea Schiumarini returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
• 26 October: Mason Klein “talking to the teams but nothing is happening”
• 26 October: Nasser Al-Attiyah joins Prodrive
• 29 October: Bruno Leblanc accepted for 2024 Dakar Rally after Morocco performance
• 2 November: Hero MotoSports acquires Monster Energy backing
• 2 November: Gioele Meoni accepted for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 2 November: Julien Dalbec earns 2024 Dakar Rally ticket in Morocco
• 3 November: Moto Racing Group accepted for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 3 November: Joan Barreda joins Hero MotoSports for 2024
• 3 November: COVID-19 forces Mirjam Pol to miss 2024 Dakar Rally
• 4 November: Lucas Del Rio skipping 2024 Dakar Rally for personal reasons
• 7 November: 2024 Kove 450 Rally revealed
• 9 November: Patronellis skipping 2024 Dakar Rally
• 9 November: Fantic Rally Team to field three-rider effort at 2024 Dakar Rally
• 9 November: Pau Navarro to race Mini JCW Rally Plus for X-raid at 2024 Dakar Rally
• 9 November: Seth Quintero, Lucas Moraes to race for Toyota Gazoo Racing at 2024 Dakar Rally
• 10 November: Kirsten Landman skipping 2024 Dakar Rally
• 10 November: Christine GZ making Dakar Rally début in 2024
• 10 November: ALL1 Dakar locked in for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 11 November: Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa bringing three Hiluxes to 2024 Dakar Rally
• 12 November: Jérôme de Sadeleer returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
• 16 November: Mason Klein partners with Kove Moto for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 18 November: Jean-Pascal Besson skipping 2024 Dakar Rally after accident
• 18 November: Green Power Race entering electric bike in 2024 Dakar Rally Mission 1000
• 20 November: Vaidotas Žala returning to Mini for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 20 November: Astara Team to field dual female driver lineup at 2024 Dakar Rally
• 20 November: 2024 Dakar Rally spans 7,891 km
• 21 November: KH-7 Ecovergy’s hydrogen truck entering 2024 Dakar Rally Mission 1000
• 22 November: Toyota Gazoo Racing Baltics reveals 2024 Dakar Rally programme
• 22 November: Lack of sponsorship forces Ahmed Alkuwari’s 2024 Dakar Rally withdrawal
• 22 November: Roussel: FIA had to “review everything” for rally raid class renamings
• 24 November: Tacita fielding two electric bikes in 2024 Dakar Rally’s Mission 1000
• 25 November: Gert Huzink to race as Jongbloed Dakar Team in 2024
• 25 November: “Military-type” rations to be distributed for 2024 Dakar Rally’s Chrono Stage
• 28 November: Pablo Copetti: “ASO made decisions that are killing the quad class”
• 29 November: Heart surgery sidelines Ondřej Martinec for 2024 Dakar Classic
• 29 November: HanWei partnering with Red-Lined to build T1+ car
• 30 November: Joan Font returns to SSV for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 30 November: Audi upgrades RS Q e-tron for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 30 November: Buggyra reveals Tatra Buggyra Evo3 truck for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 30 November: North’s Girls, Perminaite drop 2024 Dakar Rally plans
• 1 December: Bruno Santos finally set for Dakar Rally début in 2024
• 2 December: Arctic Leopard bringing three electric bikes to 2024 Dakar Rally Mission 1000
• 3 December: Zdeněk Tůma skipping 2024 Dakar Rally
• 4 December: Polli, Espinasse take up “innovative challenge” of racing Tacitas at 2024 Dakar Rally
• 4 December: National flags on vehicles banned at 2024 Dakar Rally
• 6 December: CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team to run nearly full 2024 W2RC
• 6 December: HoleShot Competition to race hydrogen/diesel truck in 2024 Dakar Classic
• 7 December: KH-7 Ecovergy’s 2024 hydrogen truck introduces HVO
• 7 December: Matthias Walkner to miss 2024 Dakar Rally after breaking leg in training crash
• 8 December: Javi Vega not being scored in 2024 Dakar Rally as he remains in Malle Moto
• 13 December: 199 on FIA entry list
• 14 December: Toyota Gazoo Racing upgrades to Toyota GR DKR Hilux EVO T1U
• 16 December: Loder brothers to honour father with G-Wagen at 2024 Dakar Classic
• 16 December: 2 years after explosion, Philippe Boutron returns to Dakar Rally
• 18 December: Chicherit, de Mévius to race Hilux Overdrives in 2024
• 19 December: Éric Abel, Los Amigos skipping 2024 Dakar Rally
• 20 December: 146 on FIM entry list
• 20 December: Kris Meeke returning to Dakar Rally in 2024
• 21 December: FIA finalises Cross-Country Rally regulations ahead of 2024
• 22 December: 80 on Dakar Classic entry list
• 22 December: Injury sidelines Mike Wiedemann for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 22 December: Kamil Wiśniewski to miss 2024 Dakar Rally, plans return for W2RC
• 23 December: Gerard Farrés to ‘Rock the Dragon’ at 2024 Dakar Rally
• 24 December: 11-strong Mission 1000 to test alt-power
• 24 December: Yoshio Ikemachi to run first Dakar Rally on bike since 2000 in 2024
• 25 December: Glenn Brinkman: “Dakar is the kind of thing you have to do before you die”
• 25 December: Mário Franco: “Dakar, as the world’s biggest motor race, always has to offer some surprises and challenges different from usual”
• 27 December: Polaris RZR Pro R Factory to tackle 2024 Dakar Rally with Sébastien Loeb Racing
• 28 December: Pascal de Baar replaces injured Martin Šoltys at Tatra Buggyra for 2024 Dakar Rally
• 29 December: Sonia Ledesma on skipping 2024 Dakar: “They think you are worth less than a man”
• 30 December: Last-minute navigator changes inbound
• 30 December: Fabio Lottero finally set for Dakar Rally début in 2024

2024

• 4 January: Klein, Kove avert customs crisis
• 4 January: Ricky Brabec: “It is tough for Americans to make it in the off-road world”
• 5 January: Mashael Al-Obaidan sitting out Dakar
• 5 January: Lukas Lauda honouring father with tribute livery

Mid-race stories

• 13 January: Rodrigo Varela racing with backup Can-Am due to Red Sea crisis
• 13 January: 47 approved for Dakar Experience
• 15 January: KH-7 Ecovergy wins first Mission 1000 Fan Boost
• 17 January: Marco Piana fined for national flag on truck
• 18 January: Mason Klein: “I may not have made it to the finish line, but I definitely had a good ride”
• 22 January: Eryk Goczał: “Trust me, we wouldn’t risk the Dakar Rally by breaking any rule”

Stage winners

Overall winners