Toyota Gazoo Racing ready for South Africa as W2RC resumes 

The third round of the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) will take place on African soil next week, with the Safari Rally in South Africa ready to welcome the world’s top rally-raid competitors, from 19 to 24 May. Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) will return to the championship with a new three-car line-up, aiming to consolidate their lead in the W2RC standings as the season reaches its halfway point. 

The driver crews remain largely familiar, with Lucas Moraes (Brazil) and Armand Monleon (Spain) in the number 203 car and Seth Quintero (USA) and Dennis Zenz (Germany) once again donning the TGR colours in the No204. Joining them for the Safari Rally – and the remainder of the 2025 season – is the South African duo of Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (No211), who shift their full focus to the W2RC after several successful years racing in South Africa and Dakar. 

Cummings and Lategan have long been associated with Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA), where they not only contributed to the development of the GR Hilux EVO, but also secured five South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) titles. Following a strong showing at Dakar 2025, where they finished second overall, the pair have decided to focus exclusively on the W2RC. To do so, they aligned with the Europe-based TGR team, who are focused on the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, including Dakar. 

In terms of championship standings, TGR enter Round 3 at the top of the Manufacturer leaderboard, holding a commanding 70-point advantage with 228 points. Among the drivers, Moraes is third in the standings on 63 points, followed by teammate Quintero in fourth on 60 points. Despite missing Round 2, Lategan remains in fifth place on 55 points – a reflection of his stellar performance at the season-opening Dakar Rally. 

The Safari Rally is first W2RC event to be hosted in South Africa. Based in the North West Province, the event will span five competitive stages over varied terrain, following a prologue around Sun City on 19 May. The route will take crews into remote parts of the country near Stella, Mafikeng and Thabazimbi, before returning to Sun City for the ceremonial finish on 24 May. 

One of the highlights will be the Marathon Stage – a true test of endurance and resilience. Crews will overnight at a remote bivouac without external mechanical support, requiring them to service and prepare their cars for the following day using only the tools and spares carried in their vehicles. It’s a fitting challenge for a rally-raid event that promises to test not just outright speed, but also teamwork, durability and strategy. 

With the GR Hilux EVO returning to the terrain where it was first developed, and three highly capable driver crews ready to tackle South Africa’s demanding conditions, Toyota Gazoo Racing are primed for another strong showing – and a step closer to their W2RC title goals.  

World Rally-Raid Standings after Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Round 2) – Driver 

World Rally-Raid Standings after Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Round 2) – Manufacturer 

ENDS