Austin Jones (racing driver)

Austin Jones (born January 19, 1996) is an American off-road racing driver. He won the Dakar Rally in 2022 in the SSV T4 category.^[1] He also won the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies in the SSV T4 category^[2] and is a 2x Baja 1000 winner^[3] and SCORE International Champion in the Trophy Truck Spec Class.

Austin Jones
Nationality	US
Born	(1996-01-19) January 19, 1996 (age 28)
Championship titles
2021 2022	FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies (T4) Dakar Rally (SSV)

Trophy truck

Jones started his career in racing early, first taking the co-driver seat as his father Jesse's^[4] navigator in 2018 at the age of 22. It wasn't long until a young Jones moved into the driver's seat, making a name for himself almost immediately in the desert racing scene. Behind the wheel of a TSCO built and prepped Thunderstruck 6100 truck, Jones began taking on – and winning – some of North America's most infamous desert races, including the San Felipe 250, Baja 500 and Baja 1000 and eventually securing a SCORE championship as well as SCORE's 2019 Rookie of the Year.

Rally-raid

In 2019, Jones shifted his focus to the challenge of European-style off-road rallies and taking on some of the toughest rally-raid races in the world. Moving from trophy trucks into side-by-side (vehicles) (SSV), Jones would find himself up against some of the best and most prominent names in international racing. Jones quickly proved he was up to the challenge, eventually teaming up with Brazilian co-driver Gustavo Gugelmin,^[5] a seasoned navigator with proven track record in SSV racing.

In 2021, the duo found themselves traveling the world to compete in the FIA World Cup of Cross-Country Rally season. After placing first in three of the four points-sanctioned rallies, Jones became the first American to be named the FIA World Cup of Cross-Country Rallies Champion.^[6]

He would continue with that momentum, claiming first-place overall at the race that many agree is the world's toughest and most iconic off-road rally race in the world – Dakar – at the start of 2022. In what Jones would agree would be one of his hardest fought battles in his racing career, the win almost slipped through his fingers after a broken differential would cost the pair almost 18 minutes, cutting into their lead and putting them 01’41’’ behind the first place position. Jones would strip the SSV and push hard during the race's final stage, claiming victory with one of the narrowest margins of the rally, winning by only 02’37’’.^[7] While Jones did not win a stage during the rally, as the General Ranking leader for 8 of the 13 stages, he proved his ability to drive smart and strategically was what it takes to win a 13-day race as treacherous and grueling as Dakar.

It was initially reported that Gerard Farres who was starting the final day of the rally in 1st position with a comfortable lead suffered electrical problems in the final stage resulting in a win for Jones. However, it was later revealed that Farres had been told that he needed to slow down in the final stage to allow Jones to win the event. Fares was quoted saying "When we saw we were leading the Dakar on the second last day of the race, we realized we would have a problem.” ^{[8] [9] [10] [11]}

Sponsors

Jones drives for the Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team USA By BFGoodrich.

Racing record

Dakar Rally

Year	Class	Vehicle	Position	Stages won
2020	SSV	Can-Am	8th	0
2021			2nd	2
2022			1st	0
2023	Light Prototypes		1st	1

Complete World Rally-Raid Championship results

(key)

Year	Team	Car	Class	1	2	3	4	5	Pos.	Points
2022	Can-Am Factory South Racing	BRP Can-Am Maverick XRS	T4	DAK 183	ABU 339	MOR 528	AND 317		3rd	167
2023	Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team USA by BFG	BRP Can-Am Maverick XRS	T3	DAK 183	ABU 239	SON 324	DES 325	MOR 719	3rd	190
2024	Can-Am Factory Team	Maverick XRS Turbo	T3	DAK 548	ABU 152	PRT	DES	MOR	2nd*	100*

* Season still in progress

References

1. Leone, Chris (January 14, 2022). "Austin Jones Earns First Dakar Rally Overall SSV Victory; Quintero Extends Stage Win Record". UTVUnderground.com. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
2. Brunsdon, Stephen (November 28, 2021). "Route finalized for 2022 Dakar Rally". dirtfish.com. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
3. "A. J. Jones – SCORE International". A. J. Jones – SCORE International. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
4. "Jesse Jones – SCORE International". Jesse Jones – SCORE International. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
5. "DAKAR'S GUSTAVO GUGELMIN: "WE WANT TO KEEP UP THIS PACE" | PowerSport". powersport.motul.com (in Russian). Retrieved January 28, 2022.
6. "AJ Jones Wins the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup". UTV Sports Magazine. November 16, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
7. "Can-Am Off-Road Continues Global Racing Dominance with Fifth Consecutive Win at the Dakar Rally". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
8. "Mi palabra vale más que un Dakar', con Gerard Farrés de protagonista". www.motor.es (in Spanish). Retrieved August 8, 2022.
9. "Entrevista a Gerard Farrés: "Nuestros valores son más importantes que una victoria"". www.sport.es (in Spanish). Retrieved August 8, 2022.
10. "Farrés, te deben un Dakar". www.marca.com (in Spanish). Retrieved August 8, 2022.
11. "Gerard Farrés: "Me dieron la orden de dejarme ganar con lágrimas en los ojos"". es.ara.cat (in Spanish). Retrieved August 8, 2022.

Sporting positions
Preceded by Francisco López Contardo	Dakar Rally SSV winner 2022	Succeeded by Eryk Goczał
Preceded by Francisco López Contardo	Dakar Rally Lightweight Prototypes winner 2023	Succeeded by incumbent