Indians To Watch Out For In 2025 Dakar Rally
The 47th edition of the Dakar Rally is set to begin in Saudi Arabia from January 3 to 17, 2025. Covering a gruelling 7,700 km route, the rally will take participants through a mix of dunes, rocky valleys, and mountains. Known as one of the most challenging tests in motorsport, the Dakar Rally raises the stakes in 2025 with demanding stages like the 48-Hour Chrono and Marathon.
In the 48-Hour Chrono stage, participants must stop at the nearest rest area by sunset and survive in isolated desert conditions without external support. Following this, the Marathon stages require racers to complete sections without assistance from support vehicles or mechanics, testing their endurance and resilience.
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India will have a strong representation at the Dakar Rally 2025, with four racers participating. Hero MotoSports, the only Indian team, will compete after its historic second-place finish in the 2024 Dakar Rally. Ross Branch, who secured this podium spot, also went on to win the 2024 World Rally Raid Championship.
Hero MotoSports aims to build on this success with its three-rider squad in the premier Rally GP class. Branch, participating in his third Dakar outing, will be joined by Sebastian Buhler and Jose ‘Nacho’ Cornejo. Team manager Wolfgang Fischer emphasized their preparedness, stating that their Hero 450 Rally bikes are tuned to tackle the rally’s harsh conditions.
Ashish Raorane, a Marine Engineer turned racer, will also compete at Dakar 2025. Starting his racing career at 35, Raorane has had an unconventional journey. He became the first Indian privateer in the Malle Moto (now ‘Original by Motul’) category but had to withdraw after a crash during his 2021 debut. In 2024, Raorane faced another setback, crashing out on Stage 1 with a broken collarbone.
However, he is determined to make a strong comeback, riding a KTM 450 Rally Replica for Xraids in the Rally 2 class. His rigorous preparation, including competing in the Baja Aragon and Rallye du Maroc, has boosted his confidence for 2025.
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Jatin Jain will make his Dakar debut in 2025, bringing over two decades of racing experience. Having competed in events like the Indian National Rally Championship and Raid De Himalaya, Jain also gained international experience in rallies such as the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Argentina’s Desafio Ruta 40.
Riding a Kove 450 Rally bike in the Rally 2 class, Jain looks forward to the Dakar Rally, inspired by seasoned Indian rallyists like CS Santosh and Aravind KP. His measured approach, which included participating in global rallies for preparation, sets the stage for his first Dakar outing.
