RALLY DAKAR 2025

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) is gearing up for the ultimate test of endurance and skill as the 2025 Dakar Rally approaches

The race, renowned for its demanding nature and unpredictable challenges, will once again take place across Saudi Arabia, with competitors tackling over 8,000 kilometres of treacherous terrain, including over 5,000 kilometres of timed special stages. This year’s event promises to push competitors to the limit as they tackle one of the toughest routes in recent history. The 2025 Dakar Rally will set the stage for the FIA/FIM World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC), serving as the opening round of the season. A strong performance in this first race is essential for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing as it looks to continue the momentum of its successful 2024 W2RC campaign, which saw the Japanese manufacturer secure the Manufacturers’ Championship for the third consecutive year. The sixth edition of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia is set to offer one of the most challenging routes to date. Competitors will begin their journey in Bisha, a city in the south-west quadrant of the country, before navigating a meticulously designed course that takes advantage of the region’s diverse and demanding terrain. The rally opens with a prologue stage on 3 January, allowing competitors to establish their starting order before launching into the main event.

The route features several highlights, including the gruelling 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 without outside assistance. The iconic Empty Quarter dunes return as the centrepiece of the rally’s second week, presenting participants with towering sand dunes and challenging navigation that will separate the field.

In total, the race comprises 12 stages with stage distances ranging from the short but demanding 134-kilometre final day to the punishing 606-kilometre Stage 6. The rest day on 10 January in Hail will offer a brief respite, but the intensity returns immediately afterwards as competitors tackle the longer stages and challenging dunes in the second week. The rally will conclude in Shubaytah on 17 January, where a celebratory podium awaits the successful finishers.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will field six teams in the 2025 Dakar Rally, a mix of seasoned experience and young talent. Lucas Moraes, partnered by Armand Monleon (#203), and Seth Quintero, partnered by Dennis Zenz (#204), represent the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (Europe) contingent. Meanwhile, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa team includes Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz (#206), Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (#211), Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy (#205) and Saood Variawa with Francois Cazalet (#218). Together, the six teams form one of the most balanced and competitive line-ups in rallying.

Each team will field the 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 to maximise 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.

Ahead of the race, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will begin its journey with meticulous preparation. Once the race cars arrive in Saudi Arabia, they will be fully reassembled by the technical teams. The race teams will then conduct a full pre-race shakedown to ensure the cars are in perfect working order before the event begins. All race teams and technical team members will go through the mandatory accreditation process to receive the credentials required to participate. Finally, the cars will undergo rigorous technical inspections, where race officials will ensure that they comply with the strict Dakar regulations. This includes checks on driver safety equipment, vehicle systems and the eligibility of teams to compete.

TGR Team Quotes...Lucas Moraes: “The Dakar Rally is always the ultimate test for drivers and 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 time 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 get the season started and see how we perform on such a demanding course.”

Seth Quintero: “The 2025 Dakar Rally will 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, but that’s what makes the Dakar so special. The GR DKR Hilux Evo was built for these extreme conditions and the improvements the team has made give us the confidence to go even further. I look forward to seeing what we can achieve at such an iconic event.”

Autonews