Sam Sunderland

Sam Sunderland was born on April 15, 1989, in Poole, United Kingdom. He later based himself in Dubai. Sunderland began his racing career with success in the UAE National Baja Championship, winning in both 2010 and 2011. This early success led to his Dakar Rally debut in 2012, where he rode a Honda. Despite having to retire from his first Dakar due to an electrical fault, and missing the 2013 event due to injury, Sunderland quickly established himself as a prominent figure in the rally raid community. His determination and skill were evident from the start of his career.

In 2014, while riding for the factory Honda team, Sunderland achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first British rider since John Deacon in 1998 to win a stage of the Dakar Rally. Later that year, he joined the factory KTM team, securing two stage wins at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and finishing second in the Morocco Rally. He continued his progression by winning the Morocco Rally in 2015 and the Qatar Sealine Rally in 2016. A major career highlight occurred in 2017 when he won the Dakar Rally, becoming the first British rider to do so. This achievement was recognized with the Royal Automobile Club’s Segrave Trophy.

Sunderland continued to compete at a high level, securing stage wins in the 2018 and 2019 Dakar Rallies, finishing 3rd overall in 2019. In 2022, riding for GASGAS Factory Racing, he won the Dakar Rally for a second time and also claimed the inaugural FIM World Rally-Raid Championship. Sam Sunderland’s career is marked by consistent performance in challenging off-road conditions and significant titles in the rally raid discipline.