For more than a decade, Sonora Rally Navigation Schools have been a cornerstone of rally raid training in North America—helping prepare competitors for international rallies including Sonora Rally and Dakar, while also providing an entry point for riders and drivers discovering rally raid for the first time.
As the North American rally ecosystem has grown, the needs of our competitors have changed. So we’re changing with them.
Experienced racers need more advanced roadbooks, more technical terrain and more uninterrupted training miles.
New and developing rally competitors need classroom instruction, practical navigation training and the opportunity to build confidence in real rally terrain.
Beginning with our December school, Sonora Rally will offer two completely separate training routes and roadbooks, allowing competitors to choose the program that best fits their experience and goals.
Designed for vetted, experienced rally competitors training for Dakar 2027, Sonora Rally 2027, or their next major rally raid.
This is not a classroom program. Competitors are expected to already understand rally navigation and roadbooks.
The focus is professional-level training time: all-new, more demanding Sonora Rally roadbooks, technical navigation and serious dune terrain designed to challenge experienced competitors and sharpen the skills they’ll need on race day.
INCLUDED:
• Two days of professional-level roadbooks
• Advanced navigation
• Technical dune terrain
• Maximum roadbook and seat time
• Tracking and emergency services
• Sonora Rally support
• Saturday Fiesta Dinner
NOT INCLUDED:
• Hotel
• Lunch
• Snacks
• Water
• Vehicle or motorcycle
• Rally odometer
• Fuel
• Mexico insurance
Moto/ UTV must be street legal and equipped with minimum 31-inch tires.
Ideal for: Dakar-bound competitors, Sonora Rally 2027 competitors and experienced rally racers looking for serious pre-event training.
Designed for first-time rally enthusiasts AND experienced racers who want to sharpen their navigation skills before their next event.
Each morning begins with classroom instruction before heading into the nearby Altar Desert and dunes to put those lessons into practice on Sonora Rally-designed roadbooks.
This is real rally training in real rally terrain—combining the fundamentals with practical roadbook experience to help competitors become more confident, capable navigators.
CLASSROOM TOPICS
• Roadbook basics & lexicon
• Electronic roadbooks
• HP navigation
• Rally protocol
• Safety & tracking
• Driver / navigator relationships
• Rally Comp installation & use
• Dakar tricks & dune racing techniques
Following classroom instruction, competitors head into the dunes for practical roadbook and navigation training on both Saturday and Sunday.
INCLUDED:
• Professional Roadbooks
• Classroom instruction
• Practical dune training
• Use of Rally Comp device
• Sonora Rally T-shirt
• Breakfast daily for Araiza guests
• Saturday Dinner Fiesta
NOT INCLUDED:
• Hotel
• Lunch
• Snacks
• Water
• Vehicle or motorcycle
• Rally odometer
• Fuel
• Mexico insurance
4×4 vehicles must be street legal and equipped with minimum 31-inch tires.
Roadbooks for both programs are designed by the Sonora Rally organization.
Instruction is led by two-time Dakar class winner and Sonora Rally organizer Darren Skilton, with special guest instructor Skyler Howes — multi-year Dakar veteran and Sonora Rally “Road to Dakar” winner.
Whether you’re learning how to read your first roadbook, sharpening skills before your next rally, preparing for Sonora Rally 2027, or getting ready to line up at Dakar… There’s now a Sonora Rally training route built for where you’re headed.
TO RESERVE SPACE: ERINLEE@SONORARALLY.COM