Two-time Dakar Rally champion Toby Price describes the intense and arduous nature of the iconic race in a new documentary titled “Dakar: Race Against the Desert.” The film, shot over 18 months, showcases the resilience and determination of various racers as they navigate the challenges of the 2023 event held in the Saudi Arabian desert.
Price, who faced significant setbacks during his own campaign, notes that being featured in the documentary added an extra layer of pressure on top of the usual stresses of the race. His journey was fraught with difficulties, including a crash on stage five that involved another competitor, Joan Barreda Bort. Price, who narrowly avoided serious injury, reflected on how incidents beyond one’s control are part of the sport, saying, “You’ve got to take the good days and the bad days all the same.”
One peculiar aspect of the Dakar is the lack of communication systems among riders, which creates an atmosphere of uncertainty. “As soon as we leave our crew in the morning, we are completely on our own,” Price emphasises, highlighting the unpredictability that comes with racing at high speeds without the knowledge of competitors’ positions. This isolation adds to the complexity of navigating the course using traditional paper roadbooks, which require riders to read instructions while riding through treacherous terrain.
Despite the setbacks, Price climbed the overall standings during the marathon event, ultimately finishing second, just 43 seconds behind his teammate Kevin Benavides—an agonisingly close margin in the context of a grueling 9,000-kilometre race. He admits that little mistakes in the last stages cost him the title, a fact that continues to weigh on him.
The Dakar Rally’s essence lies in its unpredictability; anything can happen over the course of the race. Price emphasises the importance of mental resilience, expressing that maintaining a fighting spirit is crucial, as competitors often face unexpected challenges themselves. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned from this race is to never give up and to never quit,” he shares.
The documentary, “Dakar: Race Against the Desert”, captures this spirit and provides an unfiltered look into the world of one of motorsport’s most demanding competitions. It is available for purchase and rental starting May 14th. Overall, for Price, the main goal of completing the rally remains a significant achievement in itself, reflecting the profound challenges faced by all participants.