Dakar champ Toby Price reveals motivation behind new book

Two-time Dakar Rally champion Toby Price wants to show readers of his new autobiography that “anything is possible”. Titled Endurance, the book details Price’s life and career from his upbringing in rural New South Wales to his triumphs at Dakar.

The new autobiography was released by Penguin Books on February 2 and was written by Price in collaboration with journalist Andrew van Leeuwen. It also features a forward by KTM Rally boss Alex Doringer, and a testimonial by former F1 driver, Mark Webber.

Starting with his younger days on his family’s cattle station in Roto, New South Wales, Endurance is a unique look at Price’s career and is written with his typical laid-back Aussie style.

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Price says he found the time to write the book while recovering from an injury sustained in the 2021 Dakar Rally. “From my first Dakar win, I had a few book companies wanting to write a book and I always said it was too early,” he told bikesales. “But when the injury happened, I had a good window to jump on it and write.”

The off-road champion found revisiting his past to be a unique experience. “You kind of put the past in the past, so to actually go back through some old books and remember some old stories is a cool experience,” he said. “You understand that you’ve actually been through a fair bit in life.”

Growing up in the remote area of Roto, New South Wales, Price learned to ride on his family’s farm before rising through the junior dirt track and motocross ranks.

He went on to become one the most successful off-road and enduro riders in Australia, before taking his talents overseas to the Dakar Rally. He has won the famed rally-raid twice – in 2016 and 2019.

The book also details the harder moments in his life, such as the death of his sister and close friends such as Kurt Caselli and Paulo Goncalves, as well as serious injuries such as a broken neck in 2013.

“There is definitely a lot of cool, crazy stories in there and a little bit of behind the scenes of who I am and what I’m like,” Price explained. “I think it will give people a good idea of the struggles and the highs of my life and career.”

According to Price, his favourite part of the process was writing about the people in his life. “I liked writing about the people I’ve met and been involved with,” he said. “There is also parts with my sister; how she was and what’s pretty much made me who I am today."

While the book covers his rollercoaster life and hugely-successful career, Price is hoping that there will be a part two one day. “I know at this point in time I’ve probably got three to five years left on the motorcycle,” he said. “Hopefully I can get another Dakar win on two wheels, but that switch to four wheels will come one day, and hopefully that will be part two.”

The transition to four wheels has already begun, with Price having competed in both the Baja 1000 and the Finke Desert Race, as well as various other races around the globe. But, while a four-wheel Dakar career is the ultimate goal, Price wants to dabble in other forms of motorsport too.

“Funnily enough, later this month we’re going to test a little rally car,” Price revealed. “Rally is definitely an interest. Trophy trucks are an interest. And Dakar is definitely an interest.

“I’m open to any opportunity to have a go at something, even a V8 Supercar one day. I might have to lean on Red Bull a little bit there and see if we can make something happen.”

With Endurance now on sale, Price is hoping that people learn from his journey. “I just want people to see how it all kicked off and the place I grew up in,” he said. “To be thirty years later and travelling the world and racing a motorcycle, it shows that any dream is possible.”

Endurance by Toby Price is on sale now for $34.99 in paperback format. It is also available as an e-book and an audiobook. Head to www.tp87.com.au for more information.