TWO-TIME DAKAR RALLY WINNER TOBY PRICE JOINS RACE OF CHAMPIONS LINE-UP

While making his way to Saudi Arabia, this time chasing glory on four-wheels in the 2025 Dakar Rally which is now well underway, it was announced Toby Price will be representing Australia in the Race Of Champions held at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on March 7.

Price joins the likes of seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup, reigning Supercars champion Will Brown and Extreme E rally driver Molly Taylor who will compete against a list of international motorsport icons including Sebastian Vettel, Valterri Bottas, Sebastian Loeb, Travis Pastrana…just to name a few. 

Price’s entry into this year’s Dakar Rally was uncertain, to say the least. Little did he know that his fifth place at the 2024 event would be his last as a factory KTM rider. KTM chose to not renew Price’s contract, leaving the Australian with no foreseeable future on two wheels. 

Though in recent years his attention has shifted to cars and trucks, and he now holds the title for being the only competitor to have won Australia’s famous Finke Desert Race in both the bike and truck category. While he has been a regular starter in Stadium Super Trucks, and recently joined fellow Australian Paul Wheel to win the prestigious Baja 500, Price admits his mind still favours the bikes – even if his body says otherwise. 

Price outlined the financial burden this desert racing brings, even more so when you’re inside a roll cage, in his very recent Red Bull documentary Price to Dakar. Having always wanted to compete in the Dakar on four wheels, Price’s wish ultimately came to fruition sooner than expected thanks to Black Rock Motor Resort in Newcastle, NSW. Funding a good majority of Price’s endeavour to compete in 2025, a team quickly flourished with former KTM teammate and fellow two-time Dakar bike champion Sam Sunderland joining as co-driver.

The duo competed in the Baja 1000 back in November, and continued onto testing in Dubai to gain some valuable experience in their Dakar machine – the Toyota Hilux T1+.  With Dakar nearly at its halfway point, the Overdrive Racing #231 car currently sits in 51st position after a puncture and subsequent axle failure forced them to stop and wait for a service truck causing the pair to lose more than five hours. 

Price began his professional career at just 16 years old, and went on to create a dominant career which includes two Dakar Rally bike titles in 2016 and 2019, five Australian Off-Road Championships, a huge nine Finke Desert Race titles across both bikes and cars, the 2018 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship and, most recently, a Baja 500 Trophy Truck title. 

While Price is well-known for battling the harshest of terrains and conditions around the world, the Race Of Champions will be a little less gruelling with just a 1km stadium circuit on the cards. 

Toby Price:
“We have been flat out getting everything together for Dakar and I received a call from Fredrik (Johnsson) out of the blue about being a part of the Race Of Champions. ROC is such a cool event and to be a part of the first version in Australia is pretty exciting to be honest and something to look forward to. We have our heads down making sure we head to Dakar as prepared as we possibly can be in what will be our first attempt in a car. It is nice to know that once we have Dakar behind us we will be returning home to join Jamie (Whincup), Will (Brown) and Molly (Taylor) as part of Team Australia and going up against some of the best in the world.”

Fredrik Johnsson, Race Of Champions President and Co-Founder:
“Toby Price is one of the toughest competitors we have ever seen in any form of world motorsport. His incredible stamina and the pain threshold he has displayed to win Dakar, not once, but twice, is stuff of legend. The Australian fans have really embraced him over the years because of his no-nonsense approach to his sport and his ability and willingness to give his time to them. He has proven himself on two wheels and four and I am sure he will be super competitive in front of a home crowd at Accor Stadium. We wish him all the best in his new endeavors at Dakar this month and look forward to seeing him fresh ready to go in Sydney – a long way from the Saudi sand dunes.”

The Race Of Champions will be held on March 7-8 at Accor Stadium in Sydney.