Press Release | March 16, 2017
Winner gets comp entry into 2018 Dakar Rally
This is a press release from Sonora Rally…
2017 Sonora Rally and Dakar Challenge event will start with a sold-out field of heavy competition. In just under one week, more than forty cars and bikes will start the third annual Sonora Rally, racing four days through spectacular terrain including Sonora’s massive sand dune “erg,” one of only five like it in the world.
Competing for the “Dakar Challenge” where winner will receive entry into the prestigious Dakar Rally 2018 are top riders Mark Samuels, Steve Hengeveld, Andrew Short, James Pearson and David Pearson. Monster Energy Honda team rider and Dakar veteran Ricky Brabec and many returning racers will be battling it out for the overall win.
Last years 4-wheel winner Dave Sykes will be returning and we will be honoring the memory of his winning co-driver Ramsey Elwardini, by giving a special trophy to the competitor who most represents the rally raid spirit of “never give up”! We also welcome JeepSpeed champions Perry Coen and Skyler Gambrell, a Dakar OP class winning navigator in 2012, who will be making his rally raid return at this years Sonora Rally.
Baja Legends Larry and Chad Ragland along with Todd Jergenson will compete for overall prize and Pete Mortensen will be honing his Dakar navigating skills as he uses Sonora Rally to prep for Menzies/Mortensen 2018 Dakar Rally.
This year Sonora Rally will partner with http://www.satelitedelnorte.com.mx for live stream coverage from the Rally course and nightly bivouac … u can follow the live stream here: http://sonorarally.com/livevideo.html or www.bajalivestream.com. To follow daily details and updates “like” the new Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/rallysonora/.
Welcome and thank you to Multi Tool and PCI who have come aboard as Rally Sponsors.
2017 Sonora Rally will be debuting the new features of the popular Rally Comp device! RallyComp has added Iridium based position tracking to its long list of race supporting capabilities to aid in keeping track of all competitors and to provide 2-way text message communications from anywhere on earth. This brings a new level of safety to off-road racing in a very compact device and at an affordable price.
For more information, visit www.race-dezert.com
