2025 Dakar is Live!

Day 1 – The prologue

The epic journey of the Dakar Rally is underway! Spanning 12 grueling stages and covering over 7,700 kilometers of relentless terrain, this legendary event pushes competitors to their absolute limits.

Before the race’s full intensity unfolds, one crucial step sets the stage: the Prologue.

In motorsport terms, the Prologue is akin to a qualification round, determining the starting order for the race. The faster a competitor completes it, the earlier they get to choose their starting position for the all-important Stage 1.

This initial day holds immense strategic importance. It’s the moment when racers set their plans into motion, knowing that in the world’s hardest race, every decision—no matter how small—can ripple through the following days. In a contest dominated by unforgiving elements, the starting order becomes a pivotal factor in navigating the challenges ahead.

Not the qualifying results we expected

The Prologue is a pivotal moment in the Dakar Rally—a competitor’s one and only chance to choose their starting position. With so much riding on this brief yet critical segment, everything needs to go smoothly.

For Can-Am Factory’s Team USA 420, however, the Prologue brought its share of challenges. While overtaking a competitor, Hunter Miller and Andrew Short suffered a tire blowout. This unfortunate mishap resulted in a significant time loss during this crucial phase.

Despite the setback, their impressive pace before the incident allowed them to secure a respectable position. Undeterred, the duo is eager to launch their campaign in the first stage. With confidence in their abilities and determination to push forward, they remain focused on their ultimate goal: bringing home the gold.

Stage 1 – The first Challenge

Although the Prologue didn’t go exactly as planned for Can-Am Factory’s Team USA 420, Hunter Miller and Andrew Short remain determined to take the lead as they head into the first stage: Bisha.

Kicking off at 8 PM EST, Stage 1 covers a daunting 499 kilometers, with 413 kilometers dedicated to special trials. These segments promise to challenge every competitor and mechanical component to their limits.

While Stage 1 will undoubtedly test their endurance and skill, it’s crucial for Hunter Miller and Andrew Short to deliver their best performance. Every second they save here will be vital as they prepare for Stage 2—the grueling 48-Hour Chrono. Known as one of the most relentless and punishing stages of the Dakar Rally, it demands excellence. This is only the debut of the Dakar.

What is the Dakar?

What to expect in the world’s hardest race, the Dakar?

  • 2 weeks of the most intense racing across Saudi Arabia’s desert.

  • 7700 kms of desert, dunes and spectacular landscapes.

  • 12 Different stages and a prologue, all more exciting than the other from Bisha to Shubaytah.

  • A 2-day marathon stage of more than 1000 kms where competitors find themselves isolated from the rest of their team.

  • A 48 hours chrono of over 1000 kms right at the start of the rally, starting on January 5th and ending the next day.

  • A final day presenting a Mass start for an even more special desert spectacle.

  • Countless jumps, intense speeds, the hardest mechanical challenges ever across the unforgiving no man’s land of the desert.

Needless to say, nothing about the Dakar will be easy. The two weeks will be some of the hardest for the competitors, the machines, the teams and every mechanical component will be pushed to their limits. But it is also the perfect opportunity for everyone involved, including Hunter Miller and Elka suspension, to show the world what we’re made of once again.

Make sure to tune in on the race, starting on January 3rd. Streaming will be available directly on Redbull TV, but also across numerous streaming platforms.