PRICE SETS SIGHTS ON WORLD RALLY TITLE #2

With the most recent round of the 2023 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) taking place in Mexico way back in late April, it’s been a long time between desert drinks for W2RC competitors. But this week, when the world’s best desert racers take reconvene for the W2RC’s fourth round – at Argentina’s five-day Desafio Ruta 40 – it’s been a timely reminder that it’s Australia’s Toby Price who leads the points standings and, with just two rounds to run, has his sights set on adding another World Championship crown to the first one he clinched back in 2018.

Coming into the 2800km Desafio Ruta 40 with a 7-point lead in the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship standings, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price will be looking to extend that advantage at this penultimate round of the series. And the tough Argentine terrain should suit the 36-year-old Price well. After all, the first of his two Dakar Rally wins came in 2016, when the event was held almost entirely in Argentina.

“It’s great to be here at round four in Argentina and it’s great to be back in South America,” Price explained on the eve of the Argentinean event. “t’s always cool to see people that are excited to watch the race here and I’m looking forward to seeing what it will bring. We know we’re in for some tricky conditions, that’s for sure. The championship is good at the moment. I’m leading out but there’s still two rounds to go, so anything can happen. We’ll just focus on Argentina for now. Everything is looking good at the moment. My body feels good, so we just need to have a strong race till the end!”

The Desafio Ruta 40 also sees the return to racing after injuries for a couple of other Dakar Rally winners: Price’s teammate, Matthias Walkner, and reigning W2RC champ, GASGAS rider, Sam Sunderland.