Toyota at The Dakar Rally.

Champion Toyota Gazoo Racing returns to Dakar

Reigning FIA World Rally-Raid champion TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is ready to launch its title defence at the opening round of the 2026 W2RC – the Dakar Rally, the world’s toughest race and scene of Toyota’s outstanding success last year.

A testament to Toyota’s commitment to develop ever-better cars and push them beyond limits in motorsport, the all-new DKR GR Hilux returns lighter, stiffer and stronger than the model that triumphed in the Saudi Arabian sand dunes in 2025.

The Dakar represents the ultimate test for the re-engineered DKR GR Hilux and its three crews. Over 15 gruelling days from 3 to 17 January, they will tackle 5,000km of timed stages in extreme desert heat, alongside a further 2,500km of liaison mileage. The two most punishing days will see crews complete two back-to-back marathon stages before camping alongside their vehicles, sustained only by ration packs.

Not only is the Dakar the most legendary rally-raid event – as Round 1 of the 2026 W2RC season, it’s a golden opportunity to get the five-event W2RC calendar off to the best possible start. Expect an epic battle as TGR challenges for its fourth Dakar victory.

Toyota in the W2RC

With four consecutive manufacturers’ World Rally-Raid Championships and three driver’s World Championships, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing enters the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) as the team to beat. This success is built on two key pillars: the outstanding capability of the DKR GR Hilux – developed in partnership with Overdrive – and the unwavering commitment of every TGR team member to deliver maximum performance in the heat of competition.

It’s a philosophy that endures far beyond the extremes of rally-raid, inspiring Toyota’s mission to make ever-better cars.

2026 W2RC Calendar

• Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia Jan 3 – 17, 2026
• BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal Portugal Mar 17 – 22, 2026
• Desafío Ruta 40 Argentina May 24 – 29, 2026
• Rallye du Maroc Morocco Sep 28 – Oct 3, 2026
• Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge UAE Nov 22 – 27, 2026

“We will continue to make ever-better cars by traversing the wide variety of roads and terrains across the world.”

Akio Toyoda

From desert stage to daily drive 

Everything learned from pushing the DKR GR Hilux to extremes on the Dakar Rally has helped shape the new Toyota Hilux pick-up into the most capable generation yet. Because if the Hilux can beat all comers on the toughest event on the planet, there’s no question it can handle the daily grind.

Guided by Toyota’s Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing returns to the Dakar with a DKR GR Hilux that’s in even better shape than the model that won last year.

Key updates include a new tubular chassis that increases torsional stiffness and reduces weight, along with a new reinforced transmission engineered to withstand the extremes of rally-raid competition. As TOYOTA GAZOO Racing heads back into the sand, it does so confident no stone has been left unturned in the pursuit of ultimate durability and performance.

Team 1, Car #202:

Team 2, Car #203:

Team 3, Car #Undertermined:

Meet the Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body Team (TLC) 

Team 1, Car 500:

Team 2, Car #502:

Why compete in the toughest race?