Great news for rally fans on this side of the pond! The FIM World Rally-Raid Championship is coming to North America for the first time with the Sonora Rally in Mexico being added to the series. The five-round global championship is co-sanctioned by both the FIM and FIA organizations and kick-starts the season with the iconic Dakar Rally.

Bringing the prestigious World Rally-Raid championship to North America will surely help to raise the profile of Rally Raid, a mainstream attraction in Europe and Africa, on this side of the motorsports world. Especially with a championship that carries the grueling Dakar Rally as its flagship event.

Championship competitors will visit the Sonora Rally in Mexico for the first time in April of 2023. The five-day off-road navigation event has been popular for both international and American riders, with routes taking competitors deep into the expansive deserts of the Sonoran Desert in northern Mexico. Created by Darren Skilton and Scott Whitney in 2014, the two Dakar veterans have fueled the passion and growth of the sport authentically, bringing decades of experience in the form of world-class road books, pre-event navigation classes, and professional logistics management.

But North America won’t be the only one honored with an addition to the World Rally-Raid Championship. FIM and FIA have also announced that the series will come to Argentina’s renowned Desafio Ruta 40 at the end of August 2023. A former round of the Dakar Series, the South American event uses desert stages adjacent to Argentina’s Ruta Nacional 40. A recent edition ran between Tucumán and San Juan and utilized some of the most demanding terrain in northern and western Argentina.

“We are thrilled to welcome new organizers that will make the circuit even more balanced and consistent. Expanding the event to include the Sonora Rally in Mexico and the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina will inspire the globetrotter inside every rally-raid fan and competitor. The rich tapestry of landscapes will also provide opportunities for all sorts of talent to shine,” said David Castera, A.S.O. Motor Sports Director.

Photos by A.S.O.