Aussies doing Saudi DAKAR (2020) now 2021

Trevor picks "Godspeed" Racing as his team entry name for the first ever Saudi DAKAR

Talk about sense of humour... way to put a metaphorical target on your back

I wonder if he has asked for the #113 start number also...?

David Castera, Dakar Director, offers some sound advice to the Dakar2020 navigators!

“Even far away from the mountainous areas, the Saudi desert is dotted with cliffs, canyons and a variety of rock formations. They will be valuable landmarks in navigating the harsh desert.”

Ozsylum inmate @Aquatic has some connections in high places, and informed us over on the RACING forum DAKAR thread that this Nissan ute can be had, if you have a few spare shekels in your pocket;

Got some spare cash and keen to go racing?
Only €395 000


That sure is a helluva' lot of R&D and state of the art technology - for the dollars... a turn key DAKAR winner; if you've got the money... and skill.

Personally, I would like to see the young Mr Price in something like this in the next year or so - with a top qualified navigator alongside him (one with enough nouse and background; to keep a lid on TP's right foot at the discretionary moments) and an experienced team/management/mechanical support program behind him. I think it would be nice to see Toby (who is undoubtedly a huge skill with the wheel, and reading terrain while driving at speed, rapidly and smoothly) to get in a car, and give the wrist, neck, busted leg and back an easier time of it...

A bit of modification to a carbon fibre panel here and there, some headlights, grille... rear tail lights and a "MITSUBISHI" decal across the upper windscreen - is about all that would be needed - to the casual observer, in any case (much like his "Mitsubishi" Trophy Truck" nes pas... ? )

Aside from the block of the engine, there is virtually nothing of a standard 4x4 Nissan (Navara) pick-up in that T1 Proto... just a heap of Nismo factory bits, and exotic transmission/suspension components, all wrapped up in a tube/space frame chassis.

It would not be hard to do a "Mitsubishi" makeover on something like that, if this is where TP's future (sponsorship) ties lie. or, maybe get RalliArt back in the game?

I seriously doubt that Toby's body (and all the torment it has suffered) has 5 DAKAR's (on a moto) left in it... certainly not at the "pointy end" pace* that he is used to running at the front of the field. (*and let's face it... he only knows one pace). His guts and determination through the 2019 rally are not in question. But being realistic, he just cannot continue to subject his body to that kind of punishment, and expect to come up smelling roses.

Eventually it will take it's toll... five years (until 2024 - and the end of his DAKAR moto career) is further away timewise, than the START of his DAKAR career (first ride as privateer in 2015)... We all know how much punishment he has endured over these past four years...

The move into four wheels would seem to be the smart option - if one was available.

It is true, TP has had a significant amount of "seat time" in various forms of offroad "truck/buggy" style vehicles already... with a degree of success. It would make sense for him to dabble in an FIA style cross country rally perhaps prior to finishing his stint with KTM - there are plenty of FIA CCR's on the calender that do not conflict with the DAKAR or FIM Championship calender... even a couple of suitable events here in Oz?

With the money and connections of RedBull behind him (he is one of their motorsport athletes), it is not beyond realistic expectation that he could organise a lease/hire arrangement with a suitable team for an event or two, and try his hand at the Cross Country Rally game in an auto, prior to leaving the moto realm?