The Dakar Rally is one of the most challenging competitions in motorsport – and Bahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX) have big expectations for when they line up on the start line in January 2021.  

The course for the 43rd edition of the Dakar Rally will be brand new and the most unforgiving one to date.  Teams will be tested to the limit across 11 stages, spanning thousands of miles of Saudi Arabian terrain that will include, dunes, deserts and rocks.  

Alongside the all-new route, the ASO, the Dakar Rally organisers, recently unveiled a set of new regulations for the 2021 race, designed to increase the sporting challenge. But with the wealth of motorsport experience within BRX team ranks, Team Director David Richards feels well-positioned to be a forerunner when BRX sets out from Jeddah next year.  

“The great thing about the Dakar and its technical regulations is the freedom it gives you. The range of skills we have at Prodrive is good for us to have a more open formula to develop the car from scratch,” says David Richards of the BRX car development.  

"When you go to a new category of motor racing with regular competitors who have a lot of experience, you cannot be complacent, you have to accept that there is much to learn.”  

“We will do several thousand kilometres of testing in the next six months and I have no doubt that we will be competitive come January 2021, but the Dakar Rally is a long event, and anything can happen, so you have to be realistic about your winning options.”

"I’ll be disappointed if, when you are sitting on the start line, everybody doesn’t see us as a potential winner.  

BRX have a rigorous testing schedule planned, with thousands of hours dedicated to getting the BRX vehicles dune-ready – one thing is certain, the team will not be short on ambition, expertise and desire to leave their mark on the Dakar Rally.

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