Today, Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) released details regarding their participation as a racing crew in the Dakar 2025 rally raid. TGR is the division of the Japanese manufacturer that competes in the World Rally Championship, Endurance Championship, Dakar, among others. The team is looking to continue its success in endurance racing, where they took the Manufacturers’ Championship in both the Rally and Endurance Federation Internationale de I’Automobile (FIA) competitions last year.

This year, the four driver team will include the skills of Lucas Moraes and his co-driver Armand Monleon, along with Seth Quintero and his co-driver Dennis Zenz. Moraes and Quintero both carry experience and momentum with them from the teams 2024 World Rally-Raid Championship that TGR expects to be a crucial part of the teams success. The Dakar 2025 necessitates these strengths as the race will test all aspects of the teams abilities to traverse desert dunes, rocky trails, and high-speed sections on Saudi Arabia’s open plains.

The Dakar is a two weeks long, grueling off-road endurance race. Started in 1978 as the “Paris-Dakar Rally”, the race tests a variety of skills, including navigation, driving techniques, repair diagnostics, and vehicle performance. The race is held in fourteen stages, with teams receiving a roadbook to guide them through each stage of the race. This year, the Dakar will be held from January 3 to January 17, 2025. The race will be held entirely within Saudi Arabia, and begin in Bisha and end in Shubaytah. The Dakar is widely considered one of the most grueling tests of teamwork and skill in the motorsports world.

To support the overall efforts of TGR, Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body (TLC) will be racing two vehicles based on the Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport, while Hino Team Sugawara will be racing one vehicle based on the Hino 600 series. All six of these crews will compete in the latest iteration of the GR DKR Hilux Evo (pictured below). Improvements from previous years include enhancements to the durability, quality, and performance necessary to overcome the grueling race. The Hilux Evo is equipped with a twin turbo V35A production engine (fueled by Repsol) that sits on 37 inch BF Goodrich tires and is capable of generating 354 horsepower at 5,300 rpm and just under 458 foot pounds of torque. These upgraded are rooted in Toyota’s commitment to continuous improvement and building the perfect machine for the terrain.

While the Toyota team was not as successful at last years’ Dakar race (finishing 6th overall), it did place them in a strong position for the world championship. TGR hopes that the added improvements to the Hilux Evo, along with a continued commitment to quality in their build will help propel them forward and put them in position for continued success in the Manufacturer Championship competition.