January 18, 2025

Team Coronel completed a tough 2025 Dakar Rally after mechanical problems moved them into the Dakar Experience Category.

The second half of Dakar 2025 brought everything you’d expect from the world’s toughest rally - dust, dunes, challenges, and triumphs. For Tim and Tom Coronel, it was a week filled with challenges and classic Dakar moments.

Their goal for the second week was to hold onto their top-20 position and perhaps climb even higher. Expecting tough dunes, but the brothers saw an opportunity. “The four-wheel drive makes a world of difference,” Tim explains. “Where we struggled in two-wheel drive before, we now have much more grip and confidence in the sand. It’s still tough, but the Century CR7 feels great, and that gives us an edge.”

With the final punishing stages set to push competitors and their vehicles to their limits, the sixth stage of the Dakar Rally brought highs and lows. Starting strong on the route to Al Duwadimi, which featured rocky terrain followed by challenging dunes, the brothers set a blistering pace. However, 85 kilometres from the finish line, their Century CR7 broke down due to two failed alternators, leaving them stranded in the desert overnight.

With no immediate assistance available, Tim and Tom spent hours working in the pitch-dark desert. After extensive tinkering, they managed to get the car running and reached the bivouac in the middle of the night, only to head straight to the start of the next stage without any rest.

Despite receiving a starting pass for the seventh stage at the exit of the bivouac, unfortunately the officials at the start of stage seven ordered the team to return to the bivouac of Al Duwadimi, unable to continue in the official competition. The team had to transition to the Dakar Experience category, to allow them to complete the remaining stages outside the official rankings.

Stage eight stretched 487 kilometres from Al Duwadimi to Riyadh, and brought more obstacles. Starting as the last car in the field, Tim and Tom faced persistent visibility issues due to the dust kicked up by competitors. “I spent hours driving in a white tunnel of dust,” Tim said. “Sometimes, you literally can’t see a thing, so you have to stay cautious and occasionally wait to regain visibility.”

The stage was technical and challenging, including a rocky climb that the Century CR7 struggled to conquer on the first attempt. Tom guided Tim through the tricky section, demonstrating their teamwork and determination. The day ended on a high as they tackled the dunes, which Tom described as “incredible—challenging and tough, but amazing to drive through.”

Stage nine saw the brothers navigate a fast and scenic route from Riyadh to Haradh, enduring thick dust, a flat tyre, and making a navigation error. Despite these setbacks, they embraced the adventure. “This was such a beautiful stage,” said Tom. “It was so much fun to navigate, with valleys and cliffs that make you wonder, ‘Can you even get through this with a car?’ But you can, and that’s what makes it so amazing.”

Tim added: “The most important thing today was not to get frustrated and just keep doing what you see, which wasn’t a lot. It was a real Dakar stage: challenging, spectacular, and all about perseverance.”

The vast towering dunes of the Empty Quarter in stage ten offered a true test of skill, with both highs and lows for the Coronels. Unfortunately, an oil leak caused issues with their power steering, forcing an unscheduled stop. “We completely lost power steering and had to stop,” Tom explained. “It was gutting because we were on for a top-20 finish.”

Stage eleven was the highlight of the rally for the team, delivering their best result of the event, finishing 13th on the stage: “This was the best Dakar stage I’ve ever driven,” said Tom. “The ending was insane—with the sun setting behind the dunes, the stunning landscape, and a car that kept running perfectly, it was simply a day to dream of.”

Tim shared his brother’s excitement: “Wow, wow, wow. The last 50 kilometres were unbelievable. You drove through a tunnel of dunes, and everything had to be perfect. Making your own tracks, navigating, keeping control of the car—and that’s exactly what we did. This is Dakar at its best.”

The final stage of the rally was a 61-kilometre sprint through steep dunes. “It was quite a difficult stage, with really mean dunes that went down steeply,” said Tom. “We saw a lot of people in trouble along the way. But it was a nice test for us, and the pace was good. We finished the rally with a good feeling.”

Reflecting on their performance, Tom continued: “We encountered some mechanical issues during the rally that ruined our position, but I’m glad we completed all the stages. The car has so much potential, and I believe a top 15 finish was within reach. On to next year!”

After crossing the finish podium and receiving a plaque from race director David Castera, Tom expressed his gratitude: “Now that the rally is over, I would like to thank the team and all of our partners. Without their support, we couldn’t have done this. And, of course, a word of thanks to all the fans who sent us so many nice messages. Thank you all!”

Carbon Positive Motorsport have been proud to support Tim and Tom Coronel through Dakar 2025. Director Steve Smith reflected on their journey: “The Coronel brothers epitomise what we love about motorsport. Their resilience, enthusiasm, and determination remind us why this sport is so special.

"We would like to congratulate Tim and Tom Coronel on their performance - it’s been a privilege to support Tim and Tom on this incredible adventure, and we're already looking forward to seeing them return stronger next year."

 Carbon Positive Motorsport are proud to make a positive impact on the future of motorsport, one rally at a time. To join us in making a difference, click below to offset your season.

Dakar Rally 2025: Results

Final Top 10: Cars

1. Yazeed Al-Rajhi / Timo Gottschalk (Toyota Hilux Overdrive) – 52h 52m 15s

2. Henk Lategan / Brett Cummings (Toyota Hilux IMT Evo) – +3m 57s

3. Mattias Ekström / Emil Bergkvist (Ford Raptor) – +20m 21s

4. Nasser Al-Attiyah / Edouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandrider) – +23m 58s

5. Mitch Guthrie / Kellon Walch (Ford Raptor) – +1h 02m 10s

6. Mathieu Serradori / Loic Minaudier (Century CR7) – +1h 12m 04s

7. Juan Cruz Yacopini / Daniel Oliveras (Toyota Hilux Overdrive) – +1h 57m 47s

8. João Ferreira / Filipe Palmeiro (X-Raid Mini JCW Rally 3.0D) – +2h 15m 57s

9. Seth Quintero / Dennis Zenz (Toyota GR DKR Hilux) – +2h 20m 04s

10. Brian Baragwanath / Leonard Cremer (Century CR7) – +2h 59m 26s

Final Top 10: Motorcycles

1. Daniel Sanders (KTM 450 Rally Factory) – 53h 08m 52s

2. Tosha Schareina (Honda CRF450 Rally) – +8m 50s

3. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda CRF450 Rally) – +14m 46s

4. Luciano Benavides (KTM 450 Rally Factory) – +22m 16s

5. Ricky Brabec (Honda CRF450 Rally) – +29m 50s

6. Skyler Howes (Honda CRF450 Rally) – +42m 44s

7. José Ignacio Cornejo (Hero 450 Rally) – +58m 20s

8. Edgar Canet (KTM 450 Rally Replica) – +1h 40m 29s

9. Tobias Ebster (KTM 450 Rally Replica) – +2h 13m 54s

10. Štefan Svitko (KTM 450 Rally Replica) – +2h 14m 38s