North America's only Dakar-style Rally Raid – the Yokohama Sonora Rally – is set to begin on Tuesday from San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, with four days of navigating dunes, trails and primitive roads until the rally ends outside Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
Writer and rallying novice Melissa Eickhoff, Team Yokohama Parkour and freerunning athlete Sydney Olson and their team check in:
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Monday was tech inspection and a Prologue. A short special stage in the desert just outside San Luis Rio Colorado. It gave us all a chance to figure out what we know and don’t know…
We finished the Prologue stage (Melissa driving, Sydney navigating) happy to not be lost. Sydney is a professional Parkour and freerunning athlete and brand new to motorsports. She’s hooked!
(Below) Daniele Bartolucci of Westlake Village, California, picking his way through the desert terrain.
Bike entrants take multi-tasking to a new level.
Owner Jon Steinhilber and Joe Lowery of Escondido, California, brought a VW Meyers Manx to take on the Sonora Rally.
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Below: (From left to right) Melissa Eickhoff, Charisse Whiteside (Sonora Rally volunteer and road trip buddy) and Sydney Olson are about to begin the Yokohama Sonora Rally. Here's a look at how the journey began.
Follow our adventures and get race updates this week on RACER.com and social media.
Other ways to follow the Rally:
Facebook: @rallysonora
Tracking: Check the "Live Results" page on the Sonora Rally website to follow the rally live.
Melissa Eickhoff: Instagram: @metalme
Sydney Olson: Instagram (@sydneyolson1) and Facebook
Yokohama Tire: @yokohamatire Instagram Stories
For the full 2018 Yokohama Sonora Rally schedule, click here.
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