ENSENADA, Baja California, Mexico— Ensenada is home to the 2025 SCORE World Desert Championship, as three of the four races of the season will be held in this municipality — including the 6th SCORE Baja 400, the newest race in the SCORE series. Scheduled for September 10–14, the event will feature activities such as the Method Race Wheels Qualifying, the colorful and popular contingency row, the official start ceremony, the podium celebration for the winners, and the awards ceremony.
Legendary Off-Road figures have taken part in the youngest race on SCORE’s annual calendar, including several members of the Off-Road Hall Motorsports of Fame such as Larry ‘Mr. Baja’ Roeseler, Rob ‘The G.O.A.T.’ MacCachren, Eric Solorzano, Cameron ‘PAB’ Steele, and the late Robbie Pierce. As the event immediately preceding the legendary SCORE Baja 1000, many teams use it as a form of training to prepare for the iconic November Classic.
Approximately 225 race teams are expected to compete, representing 20 U.S. states and 9 countries, including host country Mexico, which has proudly hosted every SCORE race for ten consecutive years. Other participating countries for the 6th SCORE Baja 400 include Ecuador, Australia, and New Zealand.
The SCORE Baja 400 has also drawn notable celebrities from other motorsports disciplines, adding prestige to the race. Rally legends like Toby Price, Bolivia’s Juan Carlos ‘Chavo’ Salvatierra, Fabricio Fuentes, Santiago Creel, Rhys Millen, and Ryan Millen have all taken part, along with former NASCAR drivers such as Robby ‘Flash’ Gordon, Justin Lofton, and Brendan Gaughan. Former IndyCar drivers like P.J. Jones have also competed, further elevating the profile of this standout event.
Since its debut in 2019, the SCORE Baja 400 was not held in 2020 due to the worldwide health pandemic. However, it resumed in 2021 and has since attracted teams from Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas, who have returned on various occasions to the host city of Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, for each edition of the race.
The overall and SCORE Trophy Truck winners of this young race include Ryan Arciero, Foothill Ranch, Calif. (2019), and Las Vegas´ Bryce Menzies, who claimed victory in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
ENSENADA, HOUSE OF THE SCORE BAJA 400
The race and pre-race festivities are scheduled to return to the heart of Ensenada, the seaside port on the Pacific Ocean, 80 miles south of San Diego. All race festivities including racer registration, media registration pre-race contingency and the start/finish line compound will all be held in or adjacent to the iconic Riviera de Ensenada Cultural Center. Contingency and the start/finish line area will once again be the fantastic, fan-friendly Boulevard Costero.
The official timed start and finish of the race will take place at Rancho Nelson in the ejido of Piedras Gordas.
GREEN FLAG
The official green flag for the desert racers will be waved on Saturday, Sept. 13. Two- and four-wheel motorcycles will begin at 4:15 a.m. PDT, while trucks and cars will start at 9:00 a.m. PDT. The race course will be announced in August, and the elapsed-time race will have a 16-hour time limit to become an official finisher.
ENSENADA, THE HOME OF THE 400 MILES
The race week will be filled with unique and colorful moments, beginning on Wednesday, Sept. 10 with the chassis inspection for trucks and buggys participating in the Method Race Wheels qualifying. This will take place from 1:00 p.m. PDT to 5:00 p.m. PDT by appointment only and must be scheduled by calling (+52 646-127-0346). On Thursday, Sept. 11, chassis inspection/pre-tech and Stella bracket check will occur from 9:00 a.m. PDT to 5:00 p.m. PDT along the Boulevard Costero, just past the race start and finish area.
Friday, Sept.12 promises a colorful day-long, pre-race Manufacturer’s Midway and contingency festival in the start and finish line area in Ensenada. This popular SCORE activity will run from 8:00 a.m. PDT to 5:00 p.m. PDT. Tech inspection/Transponder checks/Stella will take place from 8:00 a.m. PDT to 6:00 p.m. PDT as well at the end of the manufacturer’s row.
Throughout race day, Saturday, Sept. 13, at the start and finish line area in Ensenada will feature the massive double-sided SCOREvision LED screen broadcasting race festivities, the start, live race action from around the course and finish line interviews.
For the tenth consecutive year, the charismatic Rat Sult will serve as SCORE’s host for the live race broadcast, conducting interviews with racers and sponsors. Kevin Johnson will join Sult as co-host for the 6th SCORE Baja 400 in Ensenada.
Contingency and the race itself will be streamed live, airing via the internet on the SCORE website. Included in the exclusive race coverage, along with vehicle tracking, will be live drone and in-car camera footage from various locations around the race course. There will also be hosts in the SCORE Studio bringing live updates during the race.
THE RIVIERA, A HISTORIC SITE OF ENSENADA AND SCORE
The historic Riviera de Ensenada Cultural Center, in the heart of Ensenada, will again be the site of many of the activities surrounding the 6th SCORE Baja 400. Racer registration and media registration will both be held in Salon Rojo on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (Sept. 10-12).
On Wednesday (Sept. 10 for qualifying teams only) racer registration will be held from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. PDT. On Thursday (Sept. 11) it will run from 8a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT, and on Friday (Sept. 12) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On Thursday, no new entries will be accepted after 4 p.m. PDT, and Friday after 3 p.m. PDT.
SCORE Media Registration will be held in Salon Rojo at the Riviera on Wednesday (Sept. 10) from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. PDT and on Thursday and Friday (Sept. 11-12) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PDT.
On Wednesday, September 10, racer registration for the Method Race Wheels qualifying will be held from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM Pacific Time. On Thursday, September 11, registration will be open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time, on Thursday, September 11, from 1:00 p.m. PDT to 5:00 p.m. PDT; and Friday, September 12, from 8:00 a.m. PDT to 4:00 p.m. PDT.
The Round 3 of the 2025 SCORE World Desert Championship will take place from September 10 to 14 at various venues across the 'Cinderella of the Pacific,' including the Riviera de Ensenada Cultural Center, the Boulevard Costero and Rancho Nelson. For more information, please visit: https://score-raceinfo.com/5th-baja-400-sept-11-15-2025/
Source: Score International
Photo: GetSome Photo.
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