Toyota Gazoo Racing to launch three-car assault on Dakar Rally

• Reigning champions Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel to lead Toyota Gazoo Racing entry
• Giniel de Villiers with Denis Murphy and Henk Lategan with Brett Cummings returning to the action
• Updated and even stronger GR DKR Hilux T+1 ready to take on stiff competition in the legendary rally in 2023

Toyota Gazoo Racing are set to take on the 2023 Dakar Rally with a three-car team, led by Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel, last year’s victors and newly crowned FIA World Rally-Raid (W2RC) Champions. They will be joined by the 2022 South African Rally-Raid Champion (SARRC) Giniel de Villiers with Dennis Murphy, and Henk Latigan with Brett Cummings.

The event will take place in Saudi Arabia, launching the 2023 W2RC series. Al-Attiyah and Baumel will be competing in all five gruelling W2RC rounds, with the Dakar to be followed by the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge at the end of February; the Somora Rally in Mexico in April; and the Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina at the end of August. The season will close with the Rally of Morocco, scheduled for mid-October.

The tough 2022 racing season offered TGR comprehensive opportunities to improve the quality, durability and reliability of the GR DKR Hilux T1+, with more than 15,500 miles of racing and testing completed by its crews in a cumulative 130 days on the road across the W2RC and SARRC.

For the 2023 season, the FIA has refined the championship regulations to balance the performance between the Class T1+ vehicles, and their counterparts in Class T1U (ultimate). Its aim is to close up the field, making competition even tougher.  Both the Class T1+ and T1U cars have had their peak power output reduced by 30kW; the power curves have been adjusted to blend the change proportionately; and the altitude compensation for turbo powered T1+ cars has been removed.

TGR have made improvements to the racing Hilux’s differentials and reinforced the suspension. The single damper setup has also been optimised, as have the transmission’s shifting characteristics. Finally, the software has been tweaked to accept the latest racing fuel and to ensure that the car conforms to the FIA’s Balance of Performance requirements.

In addition to TGR’s entry, seven privately entered versions of the car have been signed up for Dakar 2023, sporting similar set-ups and specifications to the GR DKR Hilux T+1 factory entry.

TGR also support Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body (TLC). In the 2022 Dakar Rally, TLC achieved their ninth consecutive victory in the production car category and in 2023 they will be competing in a new Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport. Hino Team Sugawara entered the 2022 Dakar with a racing hybrid vehicle for the first time and finished 22^nd overall in the truck category. Their 2023 entry will feature an improved hybrid system.

Dakar 2023 will get under way on 31 December on the north-western coast of Saudi Arabia before moving inland towards the city of Ha’il. From there, the route continues in a south-easterly direction, bisecting the feared Empty Quarter, before swinging northwards towards the finish at Dammam, on 15 January.

Team quotes

Alain Dujardyn, TGR W2RC Team Principal: “This year has been a fantastic one for us and I would like to thank all three our crews for their respective achievements in both the W2RC and SARRC. They constantly pushed the limits for better, and the technical mastermind Glyn Hall worked tirelessly to continuously improve our all-winning race car, making it ever-better in preparation for Dakar 2023.”

Glyn Hall, TGR Dakar & SARRC Team Principal and Technical Director: “We are excited to take on the world’s toughest automotive race with a three-car team. We’ve worked hard at refining our GR DKR Hilux T1+ over the course of the year, and we’re confident that we are well-prepared to take on the rigours of the race, as well as our competition.”

Nasser Al-Attiyah: “Winning the 2022 W2RC title was my first goal, and I’m proud to say that we achieved it. Also, the car has been getting steadily better throughout the year, and with a final test in Namibia, I’m sure that we’ve locked in the best possible version of the GR DKR Hilux T1+yet. Now all that remains is to go racing in Saudi Arabia.”

Giniel de Villiers: “This year has offered some tough challenges, especially in terms of the SARRC. With that said, we managed to win the 2022 title, and we’ve grown considerably as a team. The car has also matched our personal growth, and we are excited to be back at the Dakar Rally this January. Winning the SARRC title has affirmed our belief that we are in the mix for overall victory this January, and we can’t wait for the race to start.”

Henk Lategan: “Dakar 2022 was a steep learning curve and I’m pleased with our experience earlier this year. Now it is time to face the challenge again, but this year we are considerably more experienced and the GR DKR Hilux T1+ is better than ever.”

GR DKR Hilux T+1 specifications

Dakar Rally 2023 – Toyota Gazoo Racing

Dakar Rally 2023 – Team TLC

* Toyota Auto Body Employee

Dakar Rally 2023 – Hino Team Sugawara

Sponsors

Two of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s key sponsors for the W2RC, Red Bull and Eurol, have committed to be part of the team’s campaign in 2023, supporting Al-Attiyah and Baumel’s efforts through TGR. Eurol is a Dutch developer and producer of lubricants, additives, cleaners, technical fluids and specialty products, available in more than 90 countries worldwide. Innovation, quality and sustainability are core values of the Eurol brand. Eurol provides TGR with the Eurol Specialty Racing line with SYNGIS Technology, for extreme high-performance levels under all circumstances.

Red Bull has established itself as the premiere supporter of extreme sports and athletes, and as such fits perfectly with TGR’s Dakar and W2RC efforts. The Austrian energy drink manufacturer has partnered with Al-Attiyah, Baumel and TGR over numerous years.

The team are also supported by Jonsson Workwear and USN.

ENDS