Portugal podium for Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC

Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) finished on the podium with their all-new DKR GR Hilux for the first time yesterday, battling weather and intense competition to finish second on Rally Raid Portugal.

Seth Quintero and co-driver Andrew Short demonstrated speed and consistency across the five days of the event, sealing second place on the final stage. The result was a top-three finish for the new DKR GR Hilux in just its second W2RC rally, following on from its stage-winning performance in the season-opening Dakar Rally in January.

Quintero and Short started completed a steady run to finish fifth on Sunday’s Stage 5, 42 seconds off stage winners Lucas Moraes and Dennis Zenz (Dacia Sandriders). This secured the overall runners-up spot behind overall winners Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders).

Akira Miura successfully completed his first event with TGR W2RC, alongside Armand Monleón. The Japanese driver – a five-time Dakar Rally class winner – showed his rally raid experience by safely navigating treacherous conditions and changing weather throughout the week.

Despite rain and slippery, muddy surfaces, Miura avoided major incidents and displayed consistency as he continues to get to grips with the No204 DKR GR Hilux. Miura and Monleón were 18^th-fastest of the Ultimate competitors on Stage 5 and moved up to 14^th in class overall on their first W2RC rally together.

Only two of the team’s DKR GR Hilux made it to the finish line in Loulé, following the retirement of Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings after a high-speed roll in their No202 DKR GR Hilux early on Friday’s Stage 3. The pair had previously lost time and dropped out of the top 10 on Stage 1 after an impact with a tree.

All three crews will return to action with TGR W2RC when round three of the 2026 W2RC season takes place in Argentina on 24-29 May. The Desafío Ruta 40 – returning to the W2RC calendar after a one-year break – features stunning natural landscapes across a variety of demanding terrains.

Team quotes

Seth Quintero: “It was a good rally for us. The team did an absolutely amazing job and to get the first podium for the new car so quickly is very nice – it gives us a lot of confidence for the next races. I feel like I have made a lot of improvements with my driving and Andrew has improved in terms of navigation, so together we have made a big push. I’m very happy with second overall because it’s not easy to finish on the podium in the W2RC, against so many talented competitors. We had a clean rally and a lot of fun. We know there is more pace in the DKR GR Hilux so I’m looking forward to continuing to grow and develop with TGR W2RC.”  

Akira Miura: “I am pleased to complete Rally Raid Portugal and increase my experience of driving the DKR GR Hilux. I would like to thank Armand and all the engineers, mechanics and other TGR W2RC team members who supported me this week. It was not an easy rally with the conditions but I’m happy to reach the end. This is the start of my second career in rally raid, and I still have lots to learn but I am happy to be living my dream with this team.”

BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional result*

ENDS