MOTORSPORT – RENOWNED rally driver Hasan Al Sadadi has made Bahrain proud after successfully finishing the Dakar Rally 2025 – one of the world’s most prestigious and most challenging off-road races.
This year’s event, held across Saudi Arabia, came to a close on Friday following 12 stages of varying desert terrain and over 8,000 kilometres completed.
After reaching the finish line, Al Sadadi expressed his gratitude to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the supporters of his participation in this year’s Dakar Rally, as well as to Bahrain International Circuit and Beyon Group, noting that their backing was key to his success.
Al Sadadi raced in the side-by-side vehicle (SSV) T4 class in his #444 BRP Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR. The 61-year-old veteran Bahraini racer took on the adventure with his team, R-X Sport, and was in the driver’s seat alongside his navigator, Marcin Pasek of Poland.
Al Sadadi was ranked 83rd in his category for the 12th and concluding stage and finished 107th overall in the general classification (GC). It was his best stage ranking of the event, while his highest placing on the GC was 98th after stage 10.
His total time in the rally was 123 hours, six minutes, and three seconds.
Al Sadadi expressed his pride in being able to fly the kingdom’s flag in one of the biggest and most-followed races in the world, adding that it was an honour to represent his country on one of the grandest stages in motorsport.
Al Sadadi’s participation is part of Bahrain’s efforts to enhance its standing in world sport and confirm its commitment to supporting Bahraini athletes and enhancing their ability to compete at the highest levels.
The Dakar Rally 2025 is part of the World Rally-Raid Championship, co-sanctioned by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM). It was the first of five rounds this season.
The Dakar Rally was held for the first time in 1979, and it has turned into a major international event that attracts the best rally drivers from around the world.
Participants competed in various categories, including cars, bikes, challengers, SSVs, trucks, M1000s, and classics.
Al Sadadi was one of two Bahrainis in this year’s race. The other was Salman Mohamed, who competed in the bikes category on his #139 KTM 450 Rally Replica with the Cloudracing crew. The 37-year-old was forced to withdraw following a severe shoulder injury.
Mohamed had an accident during the race’s 845-kilometre third stage from Bisha to Al Henakiyah. He needed to be taken to hospital, where it was determined that he suffered a tear on his right shoulder ligaments.
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