• Polaris RZR wins the SSV Dakar Rally 2025 for the second consecutive year with the Sébastien Loeb Racing – RZR Factory Racing Team
• This victory marks eight total wins at Dakar for Polaris

The Sébastien Loeb Racing - RZR Factory Racing team has brilliantly defended its title in the SSV T4 category during the 47th edition of the Dakar Rally, held from January 3 to 17, 2025, in Saudi Arabia. 

The goal was simple: To win the Dakar Rally again with a strengthened structure and three talented crews, and the mission was accomplished with pilot Brock Heger and co-pilot Max Eddy Jr. in their first-ever Dakar Rally race at the helm of the RZR Pro R Factory.

"It’s my birthday today, and I needed to find a special gift for myself,” said Brock Heger. 2025 Dakar SSV Champion. “Winning the Dakar is incredible—I think it will sink in over the next few days when I’m back in the U.S. These two weeks were amazing, and I’m super excited. I’m grateful for the opportunity to race here for the first time, and I hope to come back." 

After winning the prologue, the duo secured nine consecutive podium finishes across the 12 stages—a remarkable performance for their Dakar debut. They follow in the footsteps of last year’s SSV winners, Xavier de Soultrait and Martin Bonnet, who were second in this year’s overall rankings until the penultimate stage, where a technical issue prevented them from securing a podium spot.

The legend himself, Sébastien Loeb, co-founder of Sébastien Loeb Racing, said: "A huge congratulations to the entire team for this new Dakar victory! Brock and Max Eddy Jr. were impressive from start to finish, and Xavier and Martin were so close to the podium without that mechanical issue. Bravo to everyone for never giving up during these 12 stages! Our project with Polaris is now solidly recognised for its performance and proves that our collaboration works perfectly." 

Based on the revolutionary RZR Pro R platform, the podium-topping RZR Pro R Factory is the centerpiece for the Polaris Factory Racing team, this year boasting additional enhancements to performance and durability including a one-piece chassis, a stronger, stiffer frame, adjustable suspension hardware, and new and enhanced electronic componentry. 

“Winning at Dakar is an extraordinary achievement for the Sébastien Loeb Racing and RZR Factory Racing team, but securing back-to-back victories is nothing short of phenomenal,” said Alex Scheuerell, RZR Factory Racing Technical Director. “This accomplishment reflects not only the unmatched synergy between Polaris engineering and the SLR team but also the exceptional determination and raw talent of Brock and Max on the world’s most demanding stage. For the duo to debut at Dakar and emerge victorious is remarkable. 

“The RZR Pro R Factory vehicle has now tackled Dakar twice and claimed victory both times, reaffirming it as a true race-ready platform engineered for the extreme. Its performance in challenges like Dakar and Baja directly informs advancements across the entire RZR lineup and Polaris racing programs, so this accomplishment continues to push our innovation to new heights. 

"This victory belongs to everyone involved—Brock and Max, our Polaris Factory Racing team, the RZR engineering group, and the entire SLR crew and partners. Achieving this milestone together for a second consecutive year is a testament to the power of collaboration and excellence.”

Under the management of FrayMédia Motorsport, this third participation in the Dakar marked a new phase for the team. After securing the title in 2024, the team, in collaboration with Polaris, has once again claimed the title, cementing its role as the leader in the SSV T4 category at the Dakar Rally. 

Cédric Fray, CEO of FrayMédia Motorsport:  "The Dakar remains a race defined by unpredictability and challenging terrains. We approached this edition with maximum focus and determination. Brock and Max Eddy Jr. delivered a flawless performance, showcasing exceptional control over the course and its diverse terrains.  We’re thrilled to confirm the team’s ambitions and the strength of this partnership with Polaris. This was a new challenge with a restructured leadership for this edition, and the results speak for themselves! We can all collectively be proud of this success!"

FINAL RESULTS (SÉBASTIEN LOEB RACING):

#425 - Brock Heger (USA) and Max Eddy Jr. (USA): P1 overall.
Prologue winner and 1 stage win / 9 consecutive podium finishes

#400 - Xavier de Soultrait (France) and Martin Bonnet (France): P21 overall.
1 stage win / 5 consecutive podium finishes
 
#411 - Florent Vayssade (France) and Nicolas Rey (France): P26 overall.
 
Xavier de Soultrait said: 
"After last year’s victory, we had high ambitions. We stayed competitive throughout, but we made a few small mistakes, which is part of racing. The 11th stage cost us the podium, which was within our grasp. Despite this, we hold our heads high and are proud of the race we ran. This year’s level of competition was especially high, with many top drivers in the category. Brock and Max, in particular, had a perfect race for their first Dakar, making no mistakes—huge congratulations to them on their victory. 
 
“The Dakar is, above all, a team adventure. Thank you to the entire Loeb Racing and FrayMédia Motorsport teams for their dedication and hard work throughout the race. Our Polaris was finely tuned, optimised for every stage—a key factor in delivering strong performances. These two intense weeks were full of learning experiences. We’re already motivated to come back stronger next year." 
 
Florent Vayssade said: 
"Our goal was to finish in the Top 10, which we didn’t achieve, but we were competitive throughout the rally, with some strong performances on certain stages! Mechanical issues kept us from reaching the ranking we hoped for, but we had so much fun driving and navigating with Nico! The entire team was outstanding from start to finish of this Dakar. The spirit of teamwork, with so much kindness and respect, was incredible. That’s what Dakar is all about—a true human adventure!"
 
TH Trucks Rally Team
 
A triumphant race for the TH Trucks Rally Team, also at the helm of the Polaris RZR Pro R, with the crew of Enrico Gaspari and Fausto Mota completing the race in the top five, also representing an incredible second-place finish on the FIA SSV World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) podium.
 
FINAL RESULTS (TH TRUCKS RALLY TEAM):
 
#406 – Enrico Gaspari (IT) and Fausto Mota (ESP): P5 overall
P2 W2RC
 
#434 – Domingo Roman (ESP) and Oscar Bravo (ESP): P19 overall
Dakar Finishers
 
#435 – José Ignacio Gayoso (ESP) and Santiago Javier Ramiro (ESP): DNF (medical recommendation)
 
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Image credit: DPPI FrayMedia / Sébastien Loeb Racing
For more information on the Polaris RZR Pro R Factory, please contact the Polaris ORV Media Office at press@polaris-orv.media
 

^{ABOUT POLARIS
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