Source: Supplied.

Popular Australian desert rider Toby Price will return to racing next week at the third round of the 2018 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship in Chile.

The 2016 Dakar champion, who’s coming off a sixth Finke Desert Race victory in Australia, has contested a number of different auto racing categories since his last world championship hit-out in April.

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ace has been vocal about using the world series rounds as preparation for his assault at the 2019 Dakar crown after a severe leg injury in 2017 left him heavily under prepared for the prestigious event, despite still landing on the podium for the third time in his career.

Currently sitting sixth in the standings, Price will be joined by the return of his teammates and fellow Dakar victors Sam Sunderland and Matthias Walkner in the Atacama Desert.

The Atacama Rally is a 1700-kilometre journey that will span over five days from Tuesday, 14 August, and will feature 1300 kilometres of timed special stages.