On December 28th Ricciari, together with his son Riccardo, will leave for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia where he will join Simona Morosi and the entire team of Rteam RalliArt and TH-Trucks
MESSINA – For the first time the Triscele symbol of Sicily will be on his Mitsubishi Pajero v20 3200cc. This year too, the driver from Messina, already the first Sicilian to compete in the history of the Dakar, will be the only competitor who will represent the island in the most important rally raid race in the world.
These days there are many emotions for Antonio Ricciari from Messina who from 3 to 17 January 2025 will participate for the third time in the Dakar FIA CrossCountry race, the most renowned and loved international RAID by all drivers, valid for the FIA world cup and which will be held in Saudi Arabia for the sixth time. Many because for the first time his son Riccardo will be there to assist him, ready to experience the emotions of the 2025 Dakar with his father and many because after excellent placings in the first two editions the ranking ambitions have grown.
“We are not hiding – said Antonio Ricciari – This year with my team Rteam RalliArt and TH-Trucks we are aiming high, but we know full well that it won't be easy. At the starting line there will be fearsome competitors with highly performing cars. I foresee a very close race in each stage, but we will play it on equal terms with everyone. In recent months, my co-driver Simona Morosi and I have prepared well and are ready to face the 2025 Dakar which promises to be even more challenging than previous years.”
Ricciari's preparation
In recent weeks Antonio Ricciari participated in Viareggio in the official presentation of all the Rteam RalliArt crews competing in the Dakar and, recently, together with his son Riccardo, he returned to Merzouga in Morocco to participate in a very particular initiative: with the Mitsubishi cars, an event was held to bring many newbies closer to the world of rally raid, try out the cars, talk to the drivers, discover an adventurous sport like few others which has deserts and the most impervious to the planet.
A real driving school open to everyone to discover new international rally raid talents. Among other things, in 2025 Messina, Ricciari's hometown, was chosen by the FIF, the Italian off-road federation to host a regional regularity race open to the participation of all non-professional rally raid drivers. The race takes place in collaboration with the Peloro Fuoristrada Messina Club. Another event, again dedicated to beginners, promoted by the FIF will take place in Catania on 19 January.
“I find these initiatives of the Federation very interesting to bring young people closer to this sport. I am personally ready to give my contribution of experience.” Antonio Ricciari added. “Even though I am now very focused on the Dakar 2025. On 28 December Ricciari, together with his son Riccardo, will leave for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia where he will join Simona Morosi and the entire team of Rteam RalliArt and TH-Trucks, here the final technical checks on the car and the race strategy will be outlined. The first tests are scheduled for January 1st and 2nd in Bisha.
La Dakar Classic 2025
The 2025 Dakar will run from 3 to 17 January from Bisha to Shubaytah in Saudi Arabia. The return of the 48 hour time trial is expected and at least 5 separate route stages for cars and motorbikes. As always, the most challenging stage will be the Marathon which involves a night without assistance and without a bivouac, with extremely difficult conditions.
The passage through the Empty Quarter desert, the largest in the world, where its very fine sands are shaped by the wind to form dunes several tens of meters high, is announced as treacherous. 12 special tests are planned for a total of over 10,000 kilometers to travel. In the race there will be electric, 2-wheel, 4-wheel vehicles, and also hydrogen trucks.
For the third time Ricciari will race for Rteam RalliArt, one of the most important teams in Italy with great placings in the Dakar and which in recent years has created a fortunate combination with TH-Truck, an important team from Spain which will put 6 or 7 trucks are off to the Dakar, one of the most anticipated and fascinating categories. Their car will still be the Mitsubishi Pajero v20 3200cc, the same one with which they participated in the 2023 edition, covering over 9000 kilometers while safely tackling sandy dunes and rocky terrain, always with maximum control.
The Messina runner's choice of wanting to give up this year the comforts of the motorhome offered by the team or staying in the race hotels and instead preferring to bivouac in a tent for the nights preceding the stages and breaks of the race is singular, a choice that which arises from the desire to fully experience the atmosphere of this truly unique competition and which makes the pilot's adventure even more challenging. Ricciari is in his third participation in the Dakar. On his debut in 2022 he took first place among the Italian crews competing in the Classic and in 2023 he did even better, reaching third place overall among all the Italians competing in the Dakar, also coming third in the H 2 regularity category.
