RALLY DAKAR 2022

Toyota Gazoo Racing will participate with a team of four cars in the 2022 edition of the Dakar Rally, which will start on January 1st in Saudi Arabia

This team will once again be headed by the winners of the Dakar Rally 2019, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel, with Giniel de Villiers and co-pilot Dennis Murphy supporting them in the objective of revalidating the triumph. In 2021, Henk Lategan arrived at the Dakar Rally as a rally, but the three-time South African cross-country champion and his co-driver, Brett Cummings, will try to improve the result of the previous edition, in which they were out by an accident in the 5th stage after a potent start. Lastly, Shameer Variawa and his new co-driver Danie Stassen will complete the Toyota Gazoo Racing grid in Dakar 2022.

Nasser Al-Attiyah and his co-driver Mathieu Baumel are fresh from victory in the Hail Rally, which also earned them the title of the FIA ​​Cross Country Rally 2021 World Cup, making them clear favorites to win the next Dakar Rally, which will be played in Saudi Arabia between the 1st and 14th of January 2022.

Nasser and Mathieu sealed their victory in the Cross Country Rally World Cup after winning four of six races this year: Andalusia Rally, Morocco Rally, Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Hail Rally. The pair decided not to participate in two races, due to previous commitments, so they actually won every race they competed in.

Although the World Cup was won with the previous Toyota Hilux specification, the team will take the new Toyota GR DKR Hilux T1 to the Dakar Rally, marking its international debut. The new model equips the new Toyota Land Cruiser 300's twin-turbo V6 petrol engine, as well as bigger wheels, a new shock absorber suspension system with more travel, and a bolder new image.

The new Hilux GR DKR T1 was extensively tested, and the last stage, in the Kalahari Desert, confirmed the team's setup for the 2022 Dakar Rally. important advances with regard to the development of the new vehicle.

Both Nasser and Giniel de Villiers have tweaked the vehicle in the last few weeks before the race, and the team is convinced that the current setup offers an excellent balance between driving feel and sheer speed.

The Dakar Rally 2022 is not only one of the toughest car races in the world, but also the first event in the FIA's new World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Nasser and Mathieu will be at the helm of the new GR DKR Hilux T1 in next year's championship, and as such, the Dakar Rally plays a pivotal role in Toyota Gazoo Racing's aspiration to take the builder, driver and co-driver titles in the inaugural season of the W2RC.

The start of Dakar 2022 is scheduled for January 1st, with a connection between the cities of Jeddah and Hail. The road section covers 815 km, and will follow with a short timed stretch of 19 km, which will serve to determine the starting order of the first stage.

From there, the route will proceed clockwise, visiting locations such as Al Artawiyah and Al Qaisumah, before reaching the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. There, the camp will be set up for several days, until the rest day, on January 8th. From Riyadh, the race will move on to Al Dawadimi, Wadi Ad Dawasir and Bisha, before reaching its finish on January 14th in Jeddah.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Alignment:

201 - Nasser Al-Attiyah/Mathieu Baumel

207 - Giniel de Villiers/Dennis Murphy

225 - Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings

233 - Shameer Variawa/Danie Stassen

Glyn Hall, Director of Toyota Gazoo Racing: “The team is fully prepared for the next Dakar, and we are looking forward to testing our new Hilux T1 in competition. We're convinced the new vehicle has taken us to a new level, but you never really know where you are until the flag kicks off the race. We can't wait to get to Hail.”

Nasser Al-Attiyah: “We are very proud to win the 2021 Worlds, the third title for Toyota Gazoo Racing. The car that led us to all the victories in 2021 was extremely reliable and very fast, but it's clear that the new model is even better. We are ready to attack from the beginning in the Dakar Rally, with our eyes on the highest place on the podium”.

Giniel de Villiers: “In the last editions of the Dakar Rally we had a lot of problems, but we hope that the specification of the new T1 will give us the opportunity to be at the peak throughout the entire race. The new car and the new engine form a very powerful combination, and we are convinced that we will stand out in the competition.”

Henk Lategan: “For me the Dakar 2022 is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate what I'm capable of. Brett and I got off to a great start at Dakar 2021, but unfortunately our advance was cut short in the 5th stage. We are very excited about our possibilities for the next race.”

Shameer Variawa: “Last year I managed to finish my first Dakar, but I am convinced that in 2022 the result will be even better. On this occasion, it's not enough just to finish, I want to demonstrate what I'm capable of in one of the most difficult car races in the world. The new Hilux T1 is a very good car, so it's up to me and Danie Stassen, who will compete in her first Dakar Rally.”

Autonews