Off-road races

Articles, Off-road races

Baja 1000 Makes History with Los Cabos as Start and Finish in 2026

For the first time in its nearly six-decade history, the legendary Baja 1000 will both start and finish in Los Cabos. The announcement came after the Los Cabos City Council unanimously approved a deal with Score International, the event’s promoter, during its September 8 session. The 59th edition of the race, set for November 2026, will mark a historic milestone for Baja California Sur.

Never before has the Baja 1000 launched and wrapped up in the same city at the southern tip of the peninsula. Cabo San Lucas has hosted the finish line before—first in 2000 and again in 2007—but this will be the first time Los Cabos holds both the start and the finish.

“This will put Los Cabos in the eyes of the world,” said Councilman Celestino Atienzón Beltrán, who called the move “historic” and a massive boost to the local economy. Councilwoman Valerie Olmos Domínguez added that while it’s a moment of pride for locals, safety and proper organization must remain priorities to ensure a smooth event.

The Baja 1000 isn’t just about roaring engines and desert dust. It’s an economic engine of its own. When the 2023 edition took place in La Paz, more than 320 teams from Mexico, the U.S., and abroad showed up. That single race pumped nearly 100 million pesos into La Paz’s hotels and businesses, with occupancy hitting 98 to 100 percent in more than 3,100 available rooms. Across the peninsula, the economic impact was estimated between 10 and 12 million dollars, along with worldwide media coverage.

With Los Cabos playing host in 2026, the financial ripple effect is expected to be even bigger—boosting hotels, restaurants, shops, and tour services, while also driving improvements in infrastructure and public services. In short: the Baja 1000 is more than a race—it’s a cash cow on wheels.

Score International had already hinted back in July that a route change was on the horizon for 2026. The full championship calendar for that year is now set:

  • San Felipe 250: March 25–29
  • Baja 500: June 3–7
  • Baja 400: September 9–13
  • Baja 1000: November 9–15 (Los Cabos debut as start and finish line)

Los Cabos’ loop will stretch north as far as Guerrero Negro in Mulegé before turning back south, making this one of the most ambitious routes in recent memory.

Meanwhile in Ensenada…

While Los Cabos celebrates, Ensenada faces a bittersweet reality. Right now, the city is hosting the Baja 400 (Sept. 10–14, 2025), part of the current SCORE World Desert Championship. For decades, the Baja 1000 has been Ensenada’s crown jewel—the biggest event the city has, hands down. Losing it will sting.

Critics of the race, however, see things differently. Protests against SCORE events have been growing louder. Residents and activists complain of chaos in the city, environmental damage from tearing up natural landscapes, and frequent dangerous accidents. Still, the economic benefits in tourism, restaurants, hotels, and services are undeniable. Without the Baja 1000, Ensenada’s local economy could feel the shockwaves.

What Comes Next?

The move south marks a bold new chapter for SCORE and for Baja California Sur. Los Cabos gains international spotlight and millions in revenue, while Ensenada faces questions about its future as an off-road capital.

One thing is certain: when November 2026 rolls around, the world’s eyes will be on Los Cabos—and the roar of the Baja 1000 will echo all the way up the peninsula.

0 1261
 Accidents, Off-road races

Wheels of Justice Turn After Baja 500 Tragedy

A routine pre-race run during the Baja 500 turned into a nightmare—and now the driver behind the wheel may be facing some serious consequences.

A Mexican district judge has issued an arrest warrant for Rolf Helland, the American driver of the Norsemen Racing Trophy Truck, after a fatal accident in Ejido Eréndira, part of San Vicente. According to the investigation, Helland was pre-running the course on June 2 when his truck allegedly collided with a compact vehicle, killing Felipe Aréchiga Ríos, 38, a local resident.

The crash happened on Calle 16 de Septiembre. Witnesses say the victim’s family rushed him to the nearest health center—but due to the severity of his injuries, Felipe couldn’t be stabilized in time for transfer to a larger hospital. He died shortly after arriving.

Helland, on the other hand, was airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in the U.S., where he remains. The arrest warrant issued by the Baja California Attorney General’s Office has yet to be carried out due to his absence from Mexican territory.

But the story doesn’t end there.

In a move that surprised some and calmed others, SCORE International—the famed off-road racing organization behind the Baja 500—has stepped in as a mediator between the Norsemen Racing team and the victim’s family. According to SCORE director José Alfredo Grijalva Carranza, both parties have reached a preliminary damage settlement in the wake of the crash.

Yes, you read that right: there’s a tentative agreement. SCORE, the family’s legal reps, and Norsemen Racing’s team, specifically with Helland’s legal counsel, have been ironing out the details in the hopes of avoiding further escalation—including the potential for protests and blockades in Eréndira.

“We’ve been serving as the go-between,” said Helios Palafox, legal advisor for the Aréchiga family. “There are actually two intermediaries working to make sure this ends with dignity and justice.”

The agreement includes financial compensation to the victim’s family, facilitated by the racing team’s insurance provider. SCORE announced that the terms of the agreement are expected to be fulfilled by Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Still, the legal case against Helland remains open. Despite the financial agreement, the criminal investigation continues, and authorities in Baja California have not ruled out future legal action once the driver returns to Mexican jurisdiction.

This isn’t the first time SCORE International finds itself juggling the fast and furious with the serious and tragic. The high-octane world of off-road racing in Baja has long been romanticized—dust, adrenaline, and roaring engines through remote pueblos. But the events of June 2 are a grim reminder that these races run through real communities, with real people, and real consequences.

Locals in Eréndira had initially considered protesting the race, potentially blocking access routes in the days following the accident. The swift move toward mediation helped de-escalate tensions, at least for now.

Whether justice will catch up to Helland is another question.

For now, the wheels of the Trophy Truck have stopped—but the wheels of justice are still spinning.

2 7418
 Accidents, Off-road races

Tragedy in Eréndira Days Before Baja 500 Race

Just days before the engines roar to life for the 2025 SCORE Baja 500, a tragic accident has left one man dead in the quiet coastal town of Ejido Eréndira, part of the San Vicente delegation near Ensenada.

On Monday, June 2 at approximately 3:54 p.m., local authorities responded to a crash along 16 de Septiembre Street. What they found was devastating: two mangled vehicles at the bottom of an arroyo—a gray Toyota Scion with ANAPROMEX plates, and a black and white trophy truck, number 37, from Team Norsemen.

The driver of the Toyota, 38-year-old Felipe Aréchiga Ríos, was reportedly still alive when family members rushed him in a private vehicle toward medical care. But hours later, he was confirmed dead at the San Vicente Health Center, with reports noting a deep head injury and severe trauma to the left arm.

As for the drivers of the trophy truck, both were airlifted from the scene by helicopter. The destination? Unknown. The names? Unconfirmed by authorities, though online posts have pointed fingers at drivers Ricky D. Johnson and Rolf Helland of Norsemen Racing. Social media posts from family members claim the pair were speeding during a pre-run on an unsigned route and fled the scene without offering aid. These claims have not been officially confirmed, as Norsemen Racing has yet to release a public statement. While the truck involved in the accident bore the names of the team’s registered drivers, some speculate that, because it was a pre-run, team staff members— and not the official drivers—may have been behind the wheel.

The Ensenada police department’s traffic division concluded that the trophy truck was at fault. The Baja California State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) has taken over the investigation to determine legal responsibility. As of now, SCORE International has not released a statement regarding the incident.

The Baja 500 is scheduled to take place June 4–8, with the main race running on Saturday, June 7. But for many in Eréndira, the mood has shifted from celebration to outrage. The victim’s family is now calling for accountability from SCORE and has even threatened to boycott the race unless action is taken.

This isn’t the first time tragedy has cast a shadow over Baja’s legendary off-road events. During the 2024 Baja 1000, two American spectators were killed and two others injured when a driver from Team Buehler Motors abruptly accelerated during a mechanical inspection, plowing into a group of people. The driver, described by organizers as inexperienced and reckless, was detained, and the vehicle was confiscated. That incident prompted both local and state-level sanctions against SCORE International, as officials criticized the lack of control and accountability during event operations.

Whether these are isolated incidents or signs of systemic oversight, one thing is becoming clear: Baja’s off-road races are facing growing scrutiny—and calls for safer practices are only getting louder.

Whether this was a reckless oversight or a tragic miscalculation, one thing is clear: a life was lost before the green flag even waved. And now, a community is demanding answers.

2 4983