2025 Dakar Rally kicks off in Saudi Arabia

ISTANBUL

The 2025 Dakar Rally started on Friday in Saudi Arabia as South African driver Henk Lategan won the prologue stage in the car category, while Australia's Daniel Sanders was the winner in the bike prologue.

The 47th edition of the Dakar Rally kicked off with the prologue stage in the town of Bisha.

Toyota Gazoo Racing team driver Lategan came first in the prologue stage with a time of 15 minutes and 28 seconds.

Mattias Ekstrom (Ford M-Sport) from Sweden was second as the gap was a second.

Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah (The Dacia Sandriders) was third after finishing 20 seconds behind Lategan.

Defending champion Carlos Sainz (Ford M-Sport) from Spain came 25th in this stage.

Sanders wins in bike category

In the bike category of the Dakar Rally, Red Bull KTM's Australian racer Daniel Sanders finished with a time of 16 minutes and 51 seconds.

Botswana's Ross Branch (Hero) completed this stage 11.5 seconds behind the winner to be second, and Spain's Edgar Canet (Red Bull KTM) was third.

Defending champion of the Dakar Rally in bike, US racer Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda) was fourth.

The Dakar Rally's first stage will be held in the 413-kilometer (256.6-mile) track in Saudi Arabia's Bisha.

The rally will end with Stage 12 on Jan. 17 in Shubaytah.