- New Toyota GR DKR Hilux EVO T1U ready for Dakar action
- Five-car factory team fully prepared
- Shakedown, technical checks and Prologue await
The start of the 2024 edition of the Dakar Rally is just a few days away, and the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) Dakar Team has deployed near the starting bivouac at the northern Saudi Arabian city of Alula, where the race is due to kick off with a 28km-long Prologue on January 5th. All five of the team’s GR Hilux EVOs have been fully assembled on site, and will be undergoing a shakedown to confirm that all systems are working as expected, before the team concludes the required technical checks.
The team will be represented by Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon; as well as Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz, both crews racing in Red Bull colours. Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy will be racing in GR livery, as will their teammates Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet; and Guy Botterill and Brett Cummings.
The five crews will be taking on the 12 stages of Dakar 2024, starting with the prologue on January 5th near Alula; and ending the final stage leading to the coastal city of Yanbu. The rest day will take place on January 13th in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
Alain Dujardyn, TGR W2RC Team Principal: “We are excited to stand at the dawn of a new era for TGR’s Dakar and W2RC team. Not only do we have a new car, in the form of the GR DKR Hilux EVO T1U, but we also have four new crews taking part in the Dakar Rally for us. I would like to wish all of our crews the best of luck for the upcoming race, especially those crews who will also be taking part in the remainder of the W2RC season. We have a great car and we have a great technical team. Now, it is time to go racing.”
Shameer Variawa, SVR Team Principal: “I’ve completed two Dakar Rallies as a driver, but this year I am pleased to return not only as a Team Principal, but also as a proud father. My son, Saood, will be racing in his first Dakar Rally, and I wish him and Francois a good, clean race. As for the rest of the team, we are excited to see our new GR Hilux EVO in action, and to measure its performance against the competition.”
Partners
Red Bull has established itself as the premiere supporter of extreme sports and athletes, and as such fits perfectly with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing’s Dakar and W2RC efforts. The Austrian energy drink manufacturer has partnered with TGR over numerous years, and the involvement bore fruit when the team won a second Dakar title in January 2022, and a third in 2023.
SpeedMax is a CantuStore’s private label, which is the largest omnichannel platform and leader in tire replacement market in Brazil. SpeedMax promotes maximum performance through high-performance tires that suit all types of vehicles, from passenger cars to trucks and tractors, as well as inner tubes and truck wheels.
The team is also supported by Innovation Group Services, Toyota Financial Services, Toyota Genuine Motor Oil, Eurol, Repsol Renewable Fuels, BF Goodrich, Sparco, Maxion Wheels and Kinto. SVR is supported by Jonsson Workwear, USN and Ingco.
