Source: KTM.

Australian all-rounder Toby Price has officially been named as part of the four-rider Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Racing Team, a great reward following his incredible third-place finish in the 2015 Dakar Rally on debut.

Price, alongside Jordi Viladoms, Sam Sunderland and Matthias Walkner, will lead KTM’s factory rally assault in 2016 after the retirement of reigning five-time Dakar champion Marc Coma this month.

“We thank Marc for many wonderful years with KTM,” explained Pit Beirer, head of KTM Motorsports. “We are happy and proud that he finishes his active career at the very pinnacle of racing and we wish him ongoing success in the next stage of his career.

“We have already been planning for three years for the change of generation in our riders. We’re confident that we have a fine balance of experience and youth, who are ‘Ready to Race’ in the true KTM tradition. Our new team will certainly deliver the top results that will ensure KTM remains the driving force in rally sport. The future looks very bright and we are ready for the challenge.”

In addition to the official team, KTM will field an factory satellite team featuring multiple-time Enduro World Champion Antoine Meo, versatile female talent Laia Sanz and Pablo Quintanilla.

Price’s future in enduro competition remains unclear at this point, however he had previously announced that he will sit out the 2015 International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) in favour of building rally experience prior to next year’s Dakar.