BFGoodrich targeting a 21st Dakar success!

BFGoodrich is providing the rubber for the majority of the Ultimate entries contesting the Saudi Arabia-based 47^th Dakar (January 3-17). The brand is looking to win the world’s most famous cross-country rally for the 21^st time.

Starting in Bisha and concluding in Shubaytah a fortnight later, the 2025 event will cover 12 legs totaling more than 8,000 kilometers. Some 5,000 of these will be against the stopwatch across the infamous Empty Quarter desert in southern Saudi Arabia which is hosting the rally for the sixth year in a row.

The majority of the teams competing in the bill-topping Ultimate class have chosen to race on BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KDR3 tires (37×12.50R17) developed specifically for the sport’s technologically-sophisticated prototypes.

Dacia’s Sandrider will be making its Dakar debut, in the hands of Nasser Al-Attiyah, Sébastien Loeb and Christina Gutierrez, while Carlos Sainz, Nani Roma, Mathias Ekström and Mitch Guthrie will defend the new Ford Raptor’s chances.

They can expect stiff opposition from Toyota’s GR DKR Hilux fivesome Seth Quintero, Lucas Moraes, Giniel de Villiers, Toby Price and Yazeed Al-Rajhi, as well as from Mini JCW Rally+ drivers Guillaume de Mevius, Gerlain Chicherit  and Laia Sanz.

BFGoodrich runners have won the Dakar 20 times to date, including an ongoing unbeaten sequence of eight victories since 2017.