Technical issues with the Sentinel proximity warning system raised safety concerns on the opening stage of the Dakar Rally, leaving drivers and bikers navigating treacherous terrain without vital safety alerts.
The 2025 Dakar Rally’s opening stage was marred by widespread failures of the Sentinel system, a crucial feature of the electronic road book setup that warns drivers of nearby hazards and motorbikes. Many teams reported the system malfunctioning as early as 100km into the 413km stage, creating dangerous situations during overtaking maneuvers.
Castera promises swift action
Dakar Rally event director David Castera acknowledged the severity of the issue, emphasizing the importance of resolving it before the next stage.
“Fortunately, almost everyone has a second tablet. However, the Sentinel system, which alerts drivers to bikers nearby, seems to have jammed and reset. This has caused significant problems for overtakes,” Castera told La Chaine L’Équipe.
He added, “It’s a safety issue. We need to identify and fix the problem tonight to ensure it works properly tomorrow.”
Drivers voice safety concerns
The lack of Sentinel functionality drew sharp criticism from drivers, with five-time Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah sharing a harrowing near-miss.
“The tablet broke after 100km, and we had problems passing bikes and other cars. We passed a bike without the Sentinel, which is really not nice,” Al-Attiyah said.
His navigator, Edouard Boulanger, a former biker, highlighted the dangers bikers face in such scenarios.
“We did nearly 250km without Sentinel, making it difficult to safely overtake motorbikes. For bikers, who only have one GPS system, it must be hell,” Boulanger said.
Stage winner’s close call
Stage winner Guerlain Chicherit also experienced Sentinel issues, resulting in a tense moment where he narrowly avoided a biker in thick dust.
“We went straight into a tree avoiding a biker who was right next to me in the dust. [It caused] only cosmetic damage, but it’s frustrating,” Chicherit admitted.
A widespread problem
The issue affected multiple teams, including Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez Herrero from Dacia Sandriders and M-Sport Ford’s Nani Roma. The technical failure appeared to be universal, leaving teams and organizers scrambling to adapt.
Safety takes center stage
With overtaking already a challenging task on the rugged Dakar terrain, the failure of the Sentinel system posed serious risks to competitors. The system’s primary purpose is to alert car drivers to the proximity of bikers, ensuring safe overtakes and minimizing the risk of collisions.
Castera and the Dakar team are working urgently to diagnose and fix the problem, with safety remaining a top priority.
Looking ahead
As the Dakar Rally enters its second stage, all eyes will be on the organizers to ensure that the Sentinel system is fully operational. While drivers like Al-Attiyah and Chicherit demonstrated resilience under challenging conditions, the safety of all competitors depends on the reliability of these critical systems.
The Dakar’s unforgiving terrain demands precision and trust in technology—issues that must be resolved swiftly to maintain the integrity and safety of the world’s toughest rally.
