Can-Am has enjoyed an incredible success rate at the Dakar Rally with Portuguese race team South Racing running their factory and customer efforts at the rally. They stacked up six wins in a row from 2018 to 2023, with American AJ Jones leading the effort with back-to-back wins in ′22 and ′23. But ′24 proved tough for the squad.
The Dakar Rally is brutal, and it trips up even the best-prepared and most skilled drivers and teams. This year, the rally called South Racing’s number. AJ did not get his third win in a row, ending up fifth in the Challenger class, formerly known as T3. Teammate Rokas Baciuška ended up third, South Racing’s best showing at the rally. In SSV, formerly known as T4, Sara Price crossed the line fourth in her South Racing–prepared Maverick X3, just ahead of Can-Am factory driver João Ferreira.
Those results are excellent, but they aren’t up to South Racing’s usual standard. The team is heading back next year armed with the bananas Can-Am Maverick R, so expect fireworks from the team in the lead up to the 2025 race.
In the meantime, check out the video to see South’s effort this year from behind the scenes. And definitely stay tuned for the next installment, which will go in depth on Price’s effort.
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