Toby Hederics has tackled Australia’s toughest off-road events, but he wants to expand his horizons beyond to one of the hardest events in the world as he plans to compete in the 2025 Dakar Rally. He will race a bike under the Hederics Racing Australia banner.
“I’ve been riding since I could walk and racing for the past 11 years,” begins an introductory post by Hederics. “Growing up in regional NSW racing has always been a part of my life. I’ve competed in many races over the years including Safari, Finke and Hattah! Bringing home numerous 1st and 2nds and loving every minute regardless.
“Now I’ve set my sights on the greatest rally in the world, Dakar. This is my journey to document what it takes to get to Dakar in 2025! I am so pumped and excited to share every step of the way with you!
“Thanks for jumping on for the ride, and stay tuned!”
Hederics’ experience includes the Australian Off-Road Championship and its premier event Finke Desert Race. In 2017, he was the second-best bike finisher in the inaugural Sunraysia Safari Rally behind Dakar veteran Rodney Faggotter; another overall runner-up came in 2019 after battling with Jacob Smith throughout.
His father John “Hedge” Hederics was nicknamed “Australia’s Stéphane Peterhansel“, a nod to the fourteen-time Dakar Rally winner and in reference to John’s successes that include ten Australasian Safari victories. Toby and John, as well as the former’s older brother Beau, have competed together on both two and four wheels in races like Sunraysia; Toby also served as John’s navigator during the 2022 AORC season.
Off the track, Hederics and his family operate an orange orchard in Belah Heights, for which he has travelled abroad to Spain to study citrus farming techniques. The 27-year-old is a member of the Murray Valley Regional Advisory Committee for Citrus Australia.
