0
0
Sonora Rally Announces Schools, Partners, and Its Significance to the Road to Dakar
It’s not just a race; it’s a rite of passage. Rally Raid represents the purest expression of adventure: a test of willpower, navigation, and endurance across some of the world’s most unforgiving terrain. And there’s no better gateway to the world rally raid stage than the Sonora Rally. Carved through beaches, mountains, and the mesmerizing dunes of Mexico’s Sonoran Desert, it stands as both training ground and proving ground—a grassroots path from aspiration to Dakar.
For a decade, the Sonora Rally has built an authentic bridge between North America and the world stage, nurturing both professionals and privateers along the way. Names like Ricky Brabec, Skyler Howes, Sara Price, Mason Klein, Daniel Gonzalez, and Héctor Guerrero have all raced through its dunes. Privateers and American Rally Originals such as Kyle McCoy, Paul Neff, Jim and Dave Pearson, and Morrison “Mo” Hart have returned time and again to refine their craft. Whether chasing a first finish or a factory ride, competitors come to Sonora for one reason: to prepare for greatness.
Given the current rally calendar, Sonora is one of only three Road to Dakar events featuring dunes ahead of Dakar 2027—offering competitors a rare opportunity to train and race in terrain that mirrors the iconic challenges of the Dakar Rally. But in Mexico, the R2D makes its presence known in two ways. Because of an oversubscription of motos, six points will be awarded toward those competitors’ eligibility. And with it, a coveted opportunity to secure a place in Saudi Arabia amongst the bikes. For competitors in the SSV category, the rewards are just as significant.
The winner of the Road to Dakar in the SSV category will receive a free entry (worth over $30,000) into the 2027 Dakar Rally—a tangible payoff for precision, endurance, and drive. Among past champions is Sara Price, who turned her 2023 Road to Dakar victory into a celebrated debut at the 2024 Dakar Rally and has since expanded her influence across motorsport disciplines. She’s one of many exceptional talents to have topped the SSV podium at Sonora, proving that this category continues to produce some of the sport’s most capable and ambitious competitors. For many, this is where the dream begins.
The rally also welcomes two key partners this season: Method Race Wheels and Fox Shocks. Method’s long-standing relationship with the Sonora Rally underscores its dedication to grassroots motorsports and to those who dream beyond the horizon—privateers, adventurers, and teams who chase glory one checkpoint at a time. Fox Shocks joins the family as a new technical partner, bringing race-proven innovation that perfectly complements the rally’s spirit of precision and performance.
For those ready to take their first step or refine their skills, Sonora Rally’s intensive Roadbook Training Schools return this winter and early spring, led by two-time Dakar class winner Darren Skilton and operations director Rodolfo “Rodo” Fernández. Students will learn navigation fundamentals in the classroom and immediately apply them in the vast dunes of San Luis Río Colorado, located just 30 minutes south of Yuma, Arizona, on December 6–7, 2025, and February 14–15, 2026. Practical training, mentorship, and the best tacos in Mexico await.
The organization extends its congratulations to Brandon Krause, winner of the 2025 Sonora Rally Dakar Dreams award, who this month successfully completed Rallye du Maroc—the final step toward securing his entry into the 2026 Dakar Rally. Krause earned his ticket by claiming the $10,000 Dakar Dreams prize, presented in partnership with Off-Piste Adventure, a dedicated grassroots collective working to expand access to Rally Raid and provide resources for aspiring riders. His achievement embodies the very purpose of the Sonora Rally: transforming ambition into opportunity, and adventure into accomplishment.
Follow the journey and keep an eye out for news, updates, and registration information at https://sonorarally.com/. Stay tuned @SonoraRally on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
