South African success for Toyota Gazoo Racing’s W2RC crews

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings delivered a memorable performance at the 2025 South African Safari Rally, securing an emotional win for Toyota Gazoo Racing on their home soil. The duo clinched its first FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) victory of the season after a hard-fought five-day battle in the GR Hilux Evo across some of South Africa’s most demanding terrain.

The fifth and final stage of the event saw the crews return to Sun City for a short, sharp loop that brought the rally to a close. While the stage distance was modest, the intensity remained high, with the overall lead still undecided heading into the final kilometres. Lategan and Cummings drove a measured stage, finishing third-fastest and securing overall victory by 1min 39sec.

Toyota Gazoo Racing’s challenge was bolstered by another strong performance from Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon, who posted the second-fastest time on the final stage and moved into third place overall. The result marked Moraes’s second consecutive podium in the 2025 W2RC season and elevated him to third in the championship standings, with 89 points.

Despite suffering a puncture on the final stage, Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz completed the rally in sixth overall, rounding out a consistent event in which they remained in the mix throughout. Their efforts earned them valuable championship points and helped maintain a strong position in the title race, where Quintero now sits fourth overall with 79 points.

For Lategan, the Safari Rally win marks a significant moment in the season. Having missed Round 2 in Abu Dhabi, his dominant return in South Africa has pushed him up to second in the W2RC standings on 94 points, just 20 points off the lead – a clear statement of intent as the season heads into its final stretch.

All three TGR crews completed the rally without major technical issues, once again proving the performance and reliability of the GR Hilux Evo. The rally was also an opportunity to race in the region where the Hilux rally car was developed – and where its heritage runs deep.

With all three TGR cars finishing inside the top six, the team extended their lead in the W2RC Manufacturer standings to 311 points, maintaining a healthy margin over its nearest competitors. In the Drivers’ standings, Lategan (94 pts), Moraes (89 pts) and Quintero (79 pts) now hold second, third, and fourth respectively – a commanding position with two rounds remaining.

With the dust now settled on an unforgettable South African debut for the W2RC, Toyota Gazoo Racing are looking ahead to Round 4, the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid in Portugal, where the race for the 2025 title will continue, running from 22 to 28 September.

Team quotes

Henk Lategan: “Everybody was on it this race. It was by no means easy, there was a massive battle going on every day. At the end of day 2, the top three were separated by 30 seconds. So to come out and be on top after such a long fight with so many legends is awesome, and to do it on home soil is even better.”

Lucas Moraes: “It was a very special race for the team, with Henk and Brett winning their home race. We gave it a good push today and finishing third overall helps us stay in the championship fight. That’s two podiums in a row – Abu Dhabi and now here – so it shows we’re fast and consistent. The variety of terrain was great, and I think this rally was one of the best I’ve seen in the world championship.”

Seth Quintero: “The country and the fans here have been amazing. For us, the rally was a bit tough at the end. We had some bad luck with a puncture and that cost us a top-five. But I’m proud of the whole TGR team – three cars in the top six is great for the championship. We’ll regroup and aim for a strong result in Portugal.”

South African Safari Rally 2025 – Standings after Stage 5

World Rally-Raid Results after Stage 5 SA Safari Rally (Driver)

World Rally-Raid Results after Stage 5 SA Safari Rally (Manufacturer)

ENDS