The locally made Dakar Hilux will tackle the 2025 Dakar Rally comprising of 12 challenging stages, including more than 5,000 km of timed special stages. The route will take competitors from Bisha to Shubaytah, combining high-speed straights, technical dunes, and treacherous navigation. Two standout challenges include the 48-hour Chrono Stage, a tough test of endurance and mechanical reliability that takes place early in the race, and the notorious Marathon Stage, where crews must complete two days of racing without external assistance from service teams. These stages are expected to shape the outcome of the rally, testing every crew’s resolve to the extreme.
At the send off yesterday, the Hilux GR team is bullish on getting a win. Key features include:
- Engine: A 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 producing 264 kW and 620 Nm of torque, from the Land Cruiser 300.
- Suspension: Double-wishbone system with advanced dampers and 350 mm of travel to absorb massive impacts.
- Chassis: Lightweight tubular frame for rigidity and durability.
- Body: Aerodynamic composite Hilux body for optimal performance and reliability.
- Transmission: SADEV 6-speed sequential gearbox with limited-slip differentials.
- Fuel System: A 540-litre tank designed for extended endurance stages.
“The GR DKR Hilux Evo has been refined through countless kilometres of racing, including our success in the 2024 SARRC,” said Shameer Variawa, Team Principal. “This is a car that is as reliable as it is fast. We believe it’s the perfect machine for Dakar 2025.”
TGRSA will field four crews at Dakar 2025, all aiming to uphold Toyota’s proud legacy at the rally:
- Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (#211): Fresh from their SARRC title win, this duo is focused on carrying their dominant form to Dakar. Henk is returning to the Dakar Rally after missing out on the 2024 event due to injury, and will be reuniting with Cummings, we co-drove for Guy Botterill during this year’s Dakar.
- Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy (#205): With a successful season behind them, they are eager to show their pace on the global stage. Guy was the Rookie of the Year during Dakar 2024, and the highest finisher in the works TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team. Endurance racing clearly suits his style, and the man from KZN will be aiming for more of the same.
- Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz (#206): This marks Giniel’s final Dakar with Toyota, reuniting him with the co-driver who helped him secure victory in 2009.
- Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet (#218): The youngest pairing in the line-up, keen to continue their upward trajectory in the rally-raid world, after a successful opening Dakar campaign together in 2024.
TGRSA will be joined by two additional TOYOTA GAZOO Racing crews:
- Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon (#203): Building on their impressive performances in the W2RC, this pairing will aim for another strong showing.
- Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz (#204): The young American-German duo will take on their second Dakar in the GR DKR Hilux Evo, again bringing energy and excitement to the team.
