Peacock Brings the Heat With Nightly 2025 Dakar Rally Highlights
Rev your engines, rally fans! NBC Sports delivers nightly 2025 Dakar Rally coverage on Peacock through Friday, January 17.
Get ready for all the drama of the 2025 Dakar Rally
The 2025 Dakar Rally is officially underway today in Saudi Arabia, marking the start of one of motorsport’s most challenging annual events. While the race doesn’t air live on TV as each stage unfolds, U.S. fans can watch a nightly recap show on Peacock.
Additional highlights and racer interviews will stream on Peacock and NBC Sports digital platforms throughout the event, which ends on Friday, January 17.
This year marks the 47th edition of the Dakar Rally, kicking off as the first round of the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship. Over 700 competitors from countries around the world will take on Saudi Arabia’s rugged terrain, comprising nearly 5,000 miles of deserts, canyons, and mountains.
With 400+ vehicles facing off across five categories—from motorbikes to trucks—the Dakar promises intense action and fierce rivalries. Yet, the rally is also known for fostering camaraderie among participants.
Competitors range from professional teams backed by manufacturers like Ford and Toyota to independent amateurs braving the challenge solo with minimal support. These contrasting storylines make the Dakar Rally truly unique. While big names like Carlos Sainz Sr., Nasser Al-Attiyah, and Sébastien Loeb draw attention, fans can’t resist a good underdog story.
What channel shows the Dakar Rally?
No channel airs the Dakar Rally live, but Peacock airs a daily highlights show for U.S. viewers. Each one-hour episode streams live on Peacock’s NBC Sports NOW channel at 8:00 p.m. ET and becomes available on demand immediately after.
In other North American countries, options vary for watching the Dakar Rally. Canadian spectators can stream daily recaps on FloRacing, while fans in Mexico can catch coverage on FOX Sports.
Pro tip: Beyond a Peacock subscription, we recommend bookmarking the Dakar’s Latest Ranking page and Official Dakar YouTube channel for the most day-to-day coverage.
2025 Dakar Rally on Peacock schedule
The 2025 Dakar Rally runs through Friday, January 17, with one rest day breaking up the action on Saturday, January 11. Peacock’s daily recap show will air each night of the race. To tune in, select the streaming service’s Channels tab and scroll to NBC Sports NOW at 8:00 p.m. ET. Otherwise, you can wait until 9:00 p.m. ET to watch the show on demand.
Below is a quick look at the complete Peacock schedule, including a list of every stage.
Daily Dakar Rally TV schedule in the US
| Stage | Day | Time (ET) | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prologue: Bisha | Friday, Jan. 3 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 1: Bisha | Saturday, Jan. 4 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 2 (Part 1): Bisha | Sunday, Jan. 5 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 2 (Part 2): Bisha | Monday, Jan. 6 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 3: Bisha to Al Henakiyah | Tuesday, Jan. 7 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 4: Al Henakiyah to Alula | Wednesday, Jan. 8 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 5: Alula to Hail | Thursday, Jan. 9 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 6: Hail to Al Duwadimi | Friday, Jan. 10 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Rest Day | Saturday, Jan. 11 | — | — |
| Stage 7: Al Duwadimi | Sunday, Jan. 12 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 8: Al Duwadimi to Riyadh | Monday, Jan. 13 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 9: Riyadh to Haradh | Tuesday, Jan. 14 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 10: Haradh to Shubaytah | Wednesday, Jan. 15 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 11: Shubaytah | Thursday, Jan. 16 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
| Stage 12: Shubaytah | Friday, Jan. 17 | 8:00 p.m. | Peacock |
Data effective as of post date.
What is the 2025 Dakar Rally route?
This year’s Dakar Rally begins in the southwestern region of Saudi Arabia, launching competitors on an almost 8,000-kilometer journey. Racers will traverse some of the world’s most challenging and iconic landscapes, passing through notable cities like Alula, Hail, and Riyadh. It will culminate in an epic finale on January 17 in Shubaytah, along the vast Empty Quarter desert.
The route promises to test every participant, even early on when the “48-hour Chrono Stage” arrives on Day 3. But challenges like those are what attract global thrill seekers and motorsport enthusiasts to the Dakar.
How to watch the Dakar Rally FAQ
Does the Dakar Rally air live on TV?
No, the Dakar Rally doesn’t air live on TV. Instead, most broadcasters provide daily recaps featuring highlights, commentary, and racer interviews. For real-time updates, the best options are YouTube and social media platforms, where you’ll find live coverage and behind-the-scenes content.
How can I watch the Dakar Rally for free?
You can watch Peacock’s Dakar Rally coverage for free by finding the NBC Sports NOW channel on free services like Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Samsung TV Plus. Additionally, several YouTube channels offer free daily highlights and competitor interviews, including the Official Dakar, Motorsports on NBC, and Red Bull Rally channels.
How long is the Dakar Rally?
The 2025 Dakar Rally consists of 12 stages over 15 days, covering 4,800+ miles of challenging desert and mountainous terrain.
Who are the top US competitors in the Dakar Rally?
This year’s top U.S. racers at the Dakar include Ricky Brabec and Seth Quintero. Fans are also curious to see how Sara Price and Mitch Guthrie Jr. perform.
Why you should trust us
Our sports experts researched this year’s Dakar Rally schedule and confirmed Peacock’s nightly highlights broadcast details. We also reviewed additional coverage options to provide comprehensive viewing recommendations.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
