Gruelling challenge awaits Toyota Gazoo Racing on the 2025 Dakar Rally 

Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) are gearing up for one of motorsport’s toughest tests of endurance and skill as the 2025 Dakar Rally draws near. The race, known for its demanding nature and unpredictable challenges, will once again unfold across Saudi Arabia, with competitors facing almost 5,000 miles of treacherous terrain, including more than 3,000 miles of timed special stages. The event promises to push competitors to their limits as they tackle one of the toughest routes in recent history.  

The 2025 Dakar Rally will set the stage for the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), as the opening round of the season. A strong performance is critical for Toyota Gazoo Racing, as the team aim to maintain the momentum of their successful 2024 W2RC campaign, which saw the Japanese car maker secure the Manufacturers’ Championship for the third consecutive year.  

Competitors in the sixth edition of the Dakar Rally will begin their journey in Bisha, a city in the south-western quadrant of the country, before navigating through a course that takes advantage of the region’s diverse and demanding terrains. The rally opens with a prologue stage on 3 January, which will establish the competitors’ starting order. before launching into the main event. 

Highlights include the 48-hour Chrono Stage that will test endurance early in the race, and the marathon stage where teams must rely solely on their own skills and resources to make it through the night. The Empty Quarter dunes return as a centrepiece of the rally’s second week, presenting participants with towering sand dunes and challenging navigation that will separate the field.  

The race comprises 12 stages with distances ranging from the short yet demanding 83-mile final day to the punishing 376-mile Stage 6. The rest day on 10 January in Hail will offer a brief respite, but the intensity resumes immediately as competitors tackle the longest timed specials and challenging dunes in the second week. The rally will conclude in Shubaytah on 17 January.  

Toyota Gazoo Racing will field six crews in the 2025 Dakar Rally, a blend of seasoned experience and youthful talent. Lucas Moraes (No203), partnered with Armand Monleon, and Seth Quintero (No204), partnered with Dennis Zenz, represent the Toyota Gazoo Racing (Europe) contingent. Meanwhile, the Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa squad includes Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz (No206), Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (No211), Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy (No205), and Saood Variawa with Francois Cazalet (No218). Together, the six crews form one of the most balanced and competitive line-ups in the rally. 

Each crew will rely on the race-proven GR DKR Hilux Evo, the latest iteration of Toyota’s rally-raid platform. Building on the success of the 2024 model, the 2025 Hilux Evo features refinements to key systems and components aimed at maximising reliability, durability, and performance in the unforgiving conditions of the Dakar Rally. These improvements align with Toyota’s kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement and the pursuit of excellence in building ever-better cars.  

After the TGR race cars arrive in Saudi Arabia, they will be fully reassembled by the technical crews. The race crews will then complete a thorough pre-race shakedown to ensure the cars are performing flawlessly. All race crews and technical team members will undergo the mandatory accreditation process to receive the necessary credentials to participate. Finally, the cars will pass through technical inspections, where race officials will ensure they comply with Dakar’s regulations. 

Team quotes   

Lucas Moraes: “The Dakar Rally is always the ultimate test for both the drivers and the cars, and this year’s route looks like one of the toughest yet. From the dunes of the Empty Quarter to the challenging rocky sections, every day will be a battle. The GR DKR Hilux Evo has proven itself time and again, and with the refinements made for 2025, I’m confident we have the perfect machine to take on the challenge. I’m excited to kick off the season and see how we measure up against such a demanding course.”  

Seth Quintero: “The 2025 Dakar Rally is going to be an incredible challenge, and I can’t wait to take it on. The route is brutal, and we know there won’t be any easy days out there, but that’s what makes Dakar so special. The GR DKR Hilux Evo is built for these extreme conditions, and the improvements the team has made give us the confidence to push even harder. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in such an iconic event.” 

ENDS