TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) is set to take on the upcoming Dakar Rally with a strong six-car team, combining the expertise and talent of both TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA). Along with TEAM LAND CRUISER TOYOTA AUTO BODY (TLC) and HINO TEAM SUGAWARA, they are ready for the challenge of the 2025 Dakar Rally
This year, for Dakar 2025, the team’s approach consists of two distinct components. The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing crew, representing Toyota Motor Europe, features rising stars Lucas Moraes with co-driver Armand Monleon, and Seth Quintero with co-driver Dennis Zenz. This youthful duo embodies TGR’s philosophy of nurturing young talent, providing them with unparalleled experience and opportunities to develop in the world of rally-raid.
Building on their success in the 2024 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), where Lucas Moraes and Seth Quintero contributed to Toyota’s victory in the Manufacturer’s Championship, the team heads to the Dakar with a determination to carry the momentum from the W2RC win forward into the new year. As the opening round of the 2025 W2RC season, the Dakar Rally is critical to setting the tone for the championship, making a strong result vital for the team’s title aspirations.
The 2025 Dakar Rally also marks a strengthened partnership with Repsol, who remains a key sponsor to TGR. This partnership reflects TGR’s dedication to sustainable innovation. Repsol demonstrates its expertise in renewable fuels playing a key role in Toyota’s multi-path technology strategy. Supporting a future towards carbon neutrality in motorsports. The Repsol brand will be proudly displayed on the TGR cars and team apparel, symbolising a shared vision for sustainable motorsport that drives forward the pursuit of renewable energy solutions.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA)
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) will field a four-car team, including Giniel de Villiers partnered with Dirk von Zitzewitz, Henk Lategan with co-driver Brett Cummings, Guy Botterill with co-driver Dennis Murphy, and Saood Variawa with co-driver Francois Cazalet.
Combining the TGR and TGRSA teams brings a comprehensive six-car line-up and forms one of the most versatile and balanced teams to the 2025 Dakar Rally, combining youthful energy with decades of experience in a single outfit.
TEAM LAND CRUISER TOYOTA AUTO BODY (TLC) and HINO TEAM SUGAWARA
Reinforcing the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team’s efforts, for the Dakar Rally 2025, TEAM LAND CRUISER TOYOTA AUTO BODY (TLC) will be competing in FIA T2 Stock category with two rally vehicles based on the Land Cruiser 300 GR SPORT and HINO TEAM SUGAWARA will be competing with one vehicle based on the HINO 600 Series.
In January, the 2025 Dakar Rally, promises a route that spans the varied landscapes of Saudi Arabia, taking crews through desert dunes, rocky trails, and high-speed sections across vast open plains. The race will once again test the limits of endurance, navigation, and vehicle performance as it unfolds over 14 grueling stages, with challenges designed to push even the most experienced crews to their limits. As Round 1 of the 2025 W2RC season, a strong performance in Dakar will be instrumental in setting up TOYOTA GAZOO Racing for another successful championship campaign.
GR DKR Hilux Evo
All six crews will compete in the latest iteration of the race-proven GR DKR Hilux Evo. While staying true its trusted and reliable core design that has delivered multiple victories, the 2025 version has undergone meticulous refinements, enhancing even further quality, durability, and reliability – values at the heart of Toyota’s approach. These upgrades are rooted in Toyota’s Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement, with each iteration building on past successes to create a vehicle that can withstand the toughest terrains.
SPECIFICATIONS: GR DKR HILUX EVO (2025)
| Engine – | V35A Production Engine |
| Donor – | Land Cruiser 300 |
| Engine Type – | Twin Turbo, Petrol |
| Control Regulation – | Boost Limited by FIA Reference Power Curve |
| Power – | 264 kW @ 5,300 rpm |
| Torque – | 620 Nm |
| Engine Management – | Motec |
| Transmission – | Sadev 6-speed, Sequential Shift |
| Differentials – | All Limited Slip (front, centre, rear) |
| Clutch – | Ceramic Twin Plate, 215 mm |
| Construction – | Tubular Frame |
| Wheel Base – | 3,140 mm |
| Track – | 2,025 mm |
| Overall Length – | 4,810 mm |
| Overall Width – | 2,300 mm |
| Overall Height – | 1,890 mm |
| Overall Mass – | 2,010 kg, FIA Regulated Minimum (dry weight) |
| Body – | Toyota Hilux Double Cab Pick-Up, Full Composite |
| Front Suspension – | Double Wishbone, 350 mm Travel |
| Rear Suspension – | Double Wishbone, 350 mm Travel |
| Wheels – | Evo Course, 17 inches |
| Tyres – | BF Goodrich, 37 inches |
| Fuel Tank – | FT3 Safety Cell, 540 litres |
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2024
| FIA World Rally Raid Championship（W2RC） | TGR: Manufacturer champion |
