The FIA has introduced a number of regulation changes for the 2012 World Rally Championship season with the aim of helping to reduce costs while raising the sporting challenge and increasing media coverage. The following is a summary of the changes enacted: more...

American Robby Gordon picked up the gauntlet in the car category by winning his second stage of 2012 as rival Stephane Peterhansel struggled with dunes. Peterhansel, who still has a significant advantage in the general standings, spent several minutes stuck in the sand before finally conceding only 2'49” to teammate Nani Roma, who he still leads by 20 minutes overall. more...

Robby Gordon and Team SPEED are shocked and disappointed by the interim decision made by the race organizers of the 2012 Dakar Rally to exclude Gordon from the event.

This decision has now been appealed to the governing body. The appeal will be decided several weeks from now, so Robby Gordon and the Team will continue to participate in the event pending final determination of the appeal.

The issue centers on the tire inflation system used on the Hummers. more...

The countdown is running – just three more days to go to the Dakar Rally finish at Lima. In the 11th of the 14 special stages, from Arica, Chile to Arequipa, Peru, the Monster Energy X-raid Team celebrated a one-two-three.

With their green Monster Energy MINI ALL4 Racing, the two Frenchmen Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret did not only secure the special stage win. At the same time, they also extended their lead in the overall standings. more...

The 10th special stage – from Antofagasta to Arica – proved to be a very successful one the Monster Energy X-raid Team.

With their yellow Monster Energy MINI ALL4 Racing, Spaniard Nani Roma and his French co-driver Michel Périn celebrated their third special stage win in this year’s edition of the Dakar Rally.

Just 21 seconds behind them, their French team-mates Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret took their green Monster Energy MINI ALL4 Racing to second position, thus extending their lead over Robby Gordon in the overall standings to 19:51 minutes. more...

Stage 10 was the last stage in Chile for Dakar competitors, and it would prove to be a harsh one to Robby Gordon in the last 30km.

Gordon started off the line in first, but he lost time early to the MINIs of Nani Roma and Stephane Peterhansel. After checkpoint 1, he was only 3 minutes back and had fought his way back by checkpoint 3, when he was only 30 seconds behind Peterhansel on the road. He was in third place, only 2 minutes behind. Gordon was poised to attack with the overall leader in his sight. more...

Today witnessed Nani Roma's third Dakar stage victory of 2012 ahead of the general standings leader Stephane Peterhansel. The Catalan also took advantage of a mistake by Robby Gordon and the mechanical problems suffered by MINI teammate Holowczyc to move into 2nd place overall.

In the bike class, Joan Barreda confirmed his status as the major revelation of 2012 by picking up his first stage victory on the Dakar ahead of Marc Coma and Cyril Despres, despite Despite injuring his right foot 35 km into the stage. more...

Since the 2012 Dakar Rally was started 10 days ago in Mar del Plata, Argentina, the Monster Energy X-raid Team has been holding the overall lead on every single day. more...

HUMMER driver Robby Gordon's all out attack on Stage 9 paid off, winning him his first stage of the 2012 Dakar. The American won by 1'38” ahead of Stephane Peterhansel, moving back to within 5'58” of the Frenchman in the general standings.

Gordon's teammate, defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, withdrew from the event today after mechanical issues persisted, leaving Gordon as a lonesome cowboy a long way from home.

In the truck race, the 2nd placed driver in the general standings, Czech Alès Loprais, was forced to exit the race. more...

MINI X-Raid driver Nani Roma claimed the Stage 8 win in Antofagasta, beating rival Robby Gordon by just 5 seconds. As a consolation prize, the American gained over 5'30" on Stéphane Peterhansel, whose overall lead has now dwindled to 7'36".

In the bike category, Marc Coma managed to avoid the muddy trap which later caught Cyril Despres despite being the first rider on the course. As a result, the Catalan took his 20th stage win at the Dakar and, most importantly, seized the overall lead, where he now has a 1'26" margin over Despres. more...