Round 3 of the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) is set to take place on African soil, as the Safari Rally in South Africa prepares to welcome the world’s top rally-raid competitors. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) will return to the championship, now with a powerful three-car line-up, aiming to consolidate its lead in the W2RC standings as the season reaches its halfway point.
The driver crews remain largely familiar, with Lucas Moraes (BR) and Armand Monleon (ES) (#203), as well as Seth Quintero (USA) and Dennis Zenz (D) (#204), once again donning the TGR colours. Joining them for the Safari Rally – and the remainder of the 2025 season – is the South African duo of Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (#211), who shift their full focus to the W2RC after several successful years racing in South Africa and Dakar.
Lategan and Cummings 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, which is focused on the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, including Dakar.
In terms of championship standings, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing enters Round 3 at the top of the Manufacturer leaderboard, holding a commanding 70-point advantage with a total of 228 points. Among the drivers, Lucas Moraes is third in the standings on 63 points, followed by teammate Seth Quintero in fourth on 60 points. Despite missing Round 2, Henk Lategan remains in fifth place on 55 points – a reflection of his stellar performance at the season-opening Dakar Rally.
The Safari Rally marks the first time that South Africa will host a round of the W2RC. Based in the North West Province of the country, the rally 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 of the rally 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 is primed for another strong showing – and a step closer to its W2RC title goals.
World Rally-Raid Standings after Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Round 2) – Driver
| 1 | N. Al-Attiyah | The Dacia Sandriders | 96 |
| 2 | Y. Al Rajhi | Overdrive Racing (Toyota Hilux) | 73 |
| 3 | L. Moraes | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing | 63 |
| 4 | S. Quintero | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing | 60 |
| 5 | H. Lategan | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing | 55 |
| 6 | M. Ekström | Ford M-Sport | 44 |
| 7 | M. Guthrie | Ford M-Sport | 44 |
| 8 | J. Yacopini | Overdrive Racing (Toyota Hilux) | 42 |
| 9 | J. Ferreira | X-Raid Mini JCW Team | 39 |
| 10 | M. Serradori | Century Racing Factory team | 25 |
| 13 | S. Variawa | TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa | 17 |
World Rally-Raid Standings after Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Round 2) – Manufacturer
| 1 | Toyota GAZOO Racing | 228 |
| 2 | The Dacia Sandriders | 158 |
| 3 | Ford M-Sport | 139 |
