Toyota Gazoo Racing take on 2026 Dakar Rally with updated crews and new DKR GR Hilux 

• Defending World Champions to enter three all-new KR GR Hilux in the Dakar Rally, taking place in Saudi Arabia from 3-17 January 

• Henk Lategan and Brett Cumming aiming to improve on second place secured in 2025; Seth Quintero and Andrew Scott looking to build on previous top-10 finish 

• Team newcomer Toby Price joins navigator Armand Monléon 

• New DKR GR Hilux to make competition debut, featuring stiffer, lighter tubular chassis and reinforced transmission 

• Team partners include long-term supporters Red Bull and Repsol 

Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) will kick off their FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) title defence with updated crews and all-new, stronger DKR GR Hilux at the 2026 Dakar Rally. 

TGR W2RC have won four consecutive manufacturers’ World Championships, and three driver’s World Championship titles, most recently this year with Lucas Moraes.   This success emphasises the strength of their DKR GR Hilux vehicles – based on the iconic Toyota Hilux pick-up – and the performance of their drivers, navigators and team members. 

The 2026 season begins with the Dakar Rally, held on 3-17 January in Saudi Arabia, when TGR W2RC will challenge for their fourth victory, following wins in 2019, 2022 and 2023. To take on a fiercely competitive field against multiple manufacturers, TGR W2RC have refreshed their line-up and introduced an all-new DKR GR Hilux. 

The crews 

South Africans Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings challenged for the World Championship last season, winning a W2RC event for the first time on their way to third in the drivers’ and navigators’ standings. They will drive the No202 DKR GR Hilux on the Dakar Rally, aiming to go one better than their superb second place in the last edition. 

Rising rally-raid star Seth Quintero, from the United States, demonstrated the performance and right mindset during his rookie season with TGR W2RC, earning his first stage-win s well as an overall top-10 on the 2025 Dakar. In 2026, he will drive the No203 DKR GR Hilux alongside navigator and fellow American Andrew Short. 

Australian Toby Price will make his TGR W2RC debut on the Dakar. Price is a two-time winner of the event in the bikes category and competed on four wheels for the first time in 2025 in a privately entered Toyota Hilux. He will compete alongside navigator Armand Monleón, who helped Lucas Moraes win the 2025 drivers’ title for TGR W2RC. 

The new DKR GR Hilux 

The three talented and determined crews will have an all-new DKR GR Hilux at their disposal in Saudi Arabia. Developed by Toyota’s partner Overdrive with engineers Christian Loriaux and Glyn Hall, the brains behind the outgoing DKR GR Hilux, the car will initially be run by the TGR W2RC team, before it is made available to private teams in the second half of 2026. 

It features a new tubular chassis giving the benefits of increased torsional stiffness, reduced weight and easier servicing, the latter a crucial aspect for events such as the Dakar, where fast maintenance can be decisive. 

The new DKR GR Hilux also includes a reinforced transmission, developed to handle extreme loads and contribute to a faster and tougher vehicle. It is undergoing a comprehensive testing programme to prepare it for the punishing demands of the Dakar Rally, the longest event of the season at 15 days and more than 3,000 miles of timed stages and 1,550 miles of liaisons. 

The 2026 Dakar Rally 

The 2026 Dakar Rally starts and finishes in the Red Sea port of Yanbu and features an extensive loop through challenging desert terrain and sand dunes across central Saudi Arabia, with only one rest day planned, in the capital Riyadh. The rally includes two marathon stages: back-to-back stages over two days with no external assistance or support, meaning crews sleep alongside their vehicles in standard-issue tents and subsist on ration packs for meals. 

The Dakar Rally kicks off a five-round 2026 W2RC season with further events in Portugal (12-22 March), Argentina (24-29 May), Morocco (28 September-3 October) and Abu Dhabi (22-27 November). 

Team Quotes: 

Henk Lategan: “After our first full season in the W2RC, Brett and I feel more prepared than ever for the next edition of the Dakar. Our goal is to go one better than last year’s result. It’s always exciting to be part of a new project, and we’re really looking forward to seeing what the all-new Toyota DKR GR Hilux can do in full competition trim.” 

Seth Quintero:“ Dakar ’26 is going to be a strong one, not just for me but for the entire team. The amount of work that we’ve put in the second half of the season has been truly impressive and I’m excited to implement our hard work to go for the win. I feel fit, confident and ready to take on whatever Dakar has to offer.” 

Toby Price: “This is one of those pinch-yourself moments in my motorsport career. Dakar at this level is something only a very small group of people get to experience, and I’m extremely grateful to Toyota, Red Bull, Peter Kittle Motor Company, and all our partners for making it happen. I’m really looking forward to heading back to Dakar for redemption after how our debut ended last year. Letting our partners down and seeing Sam suffer a concussion was tough, but it’s only added to my motivation. Teaming up with Armand is incredible. He brings so much experience, and I believe we’re in a great position to take it to the Dakar greats.” 

Team partners 

For the 2026 season, TGR W2RC again benefit from the support of a committed line-up of official partners. 

Red Bull has established itself as the premier supporter of extreme sports and athletes and therefore fits perfectly with Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC. The Austrian energy drink manufacturer has partnered with TGR W2RC over numerous years, including the 2022 and 2023 Dakar Rally-winning teams. 

Repsol brings its expertise in renewable fuels, which play a key role in Toyota’s multi-pathway technology strategy and contribute towards carbon neutrality in motorsports. The Repsol brand will be proudly displayed on the TGR W2RC cars and team clothing, symbolising a shared vision for sustainable motorsport that drives forward the pursuit of renewable energy solutions. 

ENDS