Sara Price shares her thoughts on competing in the up-coming Dakar Rally for the first time – January 5 to 19. The highly respected driver in Off Road Rally in America, brings all skills, experience, and knowledge gained over the course of a decade of racing to debut in the world’s most iconic race, with massive amounts of enthusiasm, positivity, and determination to make the most of the opportunity ahead.
Known for her sheer will power on achieving goals within varying Motorsport disciplines, Sara has the capabilities to utilize her drive to push beyond what is known, comfortable, and expected, to deliver results in races of extreme endurance, as will be the case competing in 2024 Dakar Stages 1 – 12 as well as Prologue.
From starting her career as a Motocross rider in 2010, to making a switch racing in Stadium Super Trucks in 2016, to becoming the first women to complete SCORE International Baja 1000 Ironwoman – driving solo for the entire race of 19 hours in 2019 – Sara has a never say never attitude which exceeds the realm of turning goals from impossible to possible.
And, so it was in 2023, when Sara won The Road to Dakar entry after taking the win in The Sonora Rally in May. Ecstatic with joy, on having secured place in T4 category with South Can-Am Racing, Sara proceeded to turn paper confirmation into securing essential backing – turning reality into actuality in a matter of months.
As Sara states: ‘It’s been a long journey to get here and it’s been absolutely amazing. A true dream come true for me. I just put in motion the facts of what we needed to do – to be the most competitive and most prepared for the upcoming Dakar 2024. First up was securing partners and start campaigning to bring America along for the ride!’
With days counting down to the start, Sara, Jeremy, and Team have accumulated as much information as possible, providing bench-mark on how their performance will match the rigors of racing Dakar’s whopping 7,891kms race, with 4,727kms included as Special Stages timed.
Competing in Rally du Maroc in October 2023 was as close as it came to gauging Sara’s skills behind the wheel of the Team’s Can-Am Maverick TRS Turbo car, coupled with the successful navigation skills of co-driver Jeremy Gray. What was not anticipated, was the exact result, with the duo taking 2 Stage wins of 5, finishing P2 overall in Rally du Maroc T4 category.
Sara: ‘Jeremy and myself make an incredible team. He’s very talented in the navigator seat and we have been doing a lot of training with Jimmy Lewis which we are so grateful for’- we’ve been working hard and we hope that shows! Navigation is key at this type of event and something that we will always be working together to perfect. Dakar is a journey – you go on. Racing off-road is the same, so we will just roll with what comes our way and use our competitive instincts and nature to do what’s right to keep at our best.’
For sure, the uncertain scenarios of competing on the varying terrains of Saudi Arabia – rocky sections, valleys, plains, and the vast sand dunes as high as mountains tests all competitors – driver’s, co-driver’s, and rider’s alike. Sara admits, tackling the long days will push her to the limits of what she has accomplished in her career to date, yet, the whole experience has the ability to reveal just what the American female is capable of – when push comes to shove.
Sara: ‘I think there are a lot of differences to what we are used to in the States but at the same time – very alike. Jeremy and I both have that instinct and that off-road edge where the terrain becomes second nature in a way and we just have to trust that. We have incredible products on our Can-Am like BFGoodrich Tires on Raceline wheels and that also gives us an edge. Speed is one thing but being smooth and not making mistakes is another – and that is the key to a successful rally’.
If any female deserves to compete in The Dakar Rally it is Sara Price. Fulfilling a bucket list is certainly a satisfactory achievement for the now 31 year old, yet, there will always be the ultimate enjoyment of fulfilling a life-long dream.
Sara: ‘It means the absolute world to me. This is the pinnacle of off-road motorsports and I’ve been trying to get here for years and years and it’s finally happening. I definitely won’t leave anything on the table and will give it my all and I can’t wait to represent America and hopefully make them proud’.
The Dakar Rally 2024 January 5 – 19 in Saudi Arabia. Header photo: Sara Price Image: Team
Words: Sharon Cox.
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