The Dakar Future Mission 1000 is a new initiative introduced as part of the Dakar Future programme. This mission offers constructors an opportunity to test vehicles with innovative technologies on Dakar terrain. The challenge will run for 100 km separate from the stages, adding up to 1,000 km.
Three engine types have been selected for Mission 1000: fully electric, fully hydrogen-powered, and hybrid technology. Entrants need to complete the entire route to score a grand total of 100 points in the challenge and will lose points for each unfinished stage.
Vehicles will be awarded points for driving skills depending on how their actual performances stack up against the established reference time. There are three modes: Eco Mode (+ 10% over the reference time and beyond), Normal Mode (within 5% of the reference time), and Sport Mode (−10% and under). Each mode awards different points.
In addition to this, there’s a unique timed challenge called “Launch Control” where the vehicles will break into a 100 m sprint from a standing start. The top-ranked entrant in each of the car and motorbike categories will be awarded 10 bonus points.
The 2025 Dakar Rally, the world’s most grueling and prestigious off-road endurance race, is set to take place from January 3rd to 17th, 2025. This year’s rally promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with several new features designed to challenge the competitors and captivate the audience.
2025 Dakar Rally Changes :
The first major change is the increased emphasis on navigation. The organizers have decided to make the rally more challenging by adding more navigation stages. This means that the competitors will need to rely more on their navigational skills and less on speed. This change is expected to level the playing field and make the race more unpredictable and exciting.
The second major change is the separation of stages for cars, bikes, and trucks. This is a significant departure from previous years, where all vehicles competed on the same stages. The separation of stages is expected to make the race safer and more competitive, as each class of vehicle will have stages designed specifically for them.
The 2025 Dakar Rally will also feature a mass start, a 48-hour Chrono stage, and a marathon stage. The mass start will see all competitors start the race at the same time, creating a thrilling spectacle for the spectators. The 48-hour Chrono stage will test the endurance and resilience of the competitors, as they will have to race non-stop for two days. The marathon stage, on the other hand, will be a test of the competitors’ mechanical skills, as they will have to service their vehicles without any assistance from their teams.
After more than 30 years, the Dakar Rally has made the decision to eliminate the quad class from its prestigious off-road race starting in 2025. This move leaves the FIM category exclusively focused on two-wheelers. The official announcement by the organizers highlights their intention to shift their attention towards motorcycles, a category that has steadily gained popularity and overshadowed the quads.
Declining Support and New Criteria
The quad category has faced challenges over the years, including dwindling manufacturer support. Currently, CFMOTO stands as the sole OEM with a full factory program in the quad class. Most other riders competing on Yamaha Raptors do so with little or no official backing.
Adding to the class’s struggles, Dakar organizers introduced new criteria in 2024 that significantly restricted quad entries. Only those who had either raced a Dakar in the past five years, signed up for the 2023 or 2024 World Rally Raid Championship, or participated in three W2RC races were eligible. In contrast, motorcycle riders faced less stringent entry regulations, allowing them to build their resume using races dating back to 2022.
Dwindling Participation
The impact of these changes was evident in rider participation. In 2023, there were 19 quad entries. However, in 2024, that number plummeted further to just 10. PabloCopetti, who finished third in the Dakar2023, expressed his concerns when the strict entry rules were announced: “ASO made decisions that are killing the quad class. Only 10 quads this year! It’s a pity because if they accept all the riders, we could be almost 30!”
The Future of Quads in Dakar
While the quad class will not feature in the 2025 edition, organizers have left the door open for a potential return if circumstances change. However, given the continuous decline in interest for Sport ATVs, the prospects for quads in the Dakar seem rather bleak. Motorcycles, on the other hand, remain a constant draw for A.S.O., and organizers believe that’s where their focus should be.
Dakar Rally Director David Castera succinctly summarized the decision: “We have decided to stop the quad category next year in ’25 because we are going to focus more on bikes. We have many demands from competitors, and we want to prioritize motorcycles. With few quads and no manufacturer support, it’s time to pause the quad class.”
The 2022 Dakar Route has been confirmed and this ‘Edition’ will follow a point to point style taking competitors from Ha’il to Jeddah through the ‘Empty Quarter’ of Saudi Arabi.
The event will run from 2nd – 14th January 2021.
Saudi Arabia offers an immense variety of wide open spaces and unique places to satisfy this thirst, even for the most demanding.
In terms of terrain, the route of the 2022 edition will be characterised in particular by a push into the Empty Quarter: a vast expanse of desert with sands and dunes that beckon the drivers and crews of the rally.
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