Toyota takes 1-2 with the GR Hilux EVO

Toyota once again proved its superiority in the world of motorsport, securing the top two positions in the toughest race on the planet, the Dakar Rally. The GR Hilux EVO left no room for competition, claiming a dominant victory over their rivals.

Saudi driver Yazeed Al Rajhi and his co-driver Timo Gottschalk finished first, taking victory by three minutes and fifty-seven seconds ahead of Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, who also competed in a GR Hilux EVO. Lategan and Cummings had led the rally for nine stages but were eventually overtaken by Al Rajhi and Gottschalk.

For Al Rajhi, winning the Dakar Rally on home soil was a dream come true. The Saudi driver now also leads the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) standings, as the Dakar Rally served as the opening round of the championship. Toyota leads the manufacturers standings as well, with a 34-point advantage over the team in second place.

There was also a strong finish for Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz, who brought their GR Hilux EVO home in ninth place despite suffering tyre issues that cost them time. They also claimed two stage wins. Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon started strongly, challenging for the top positions before a technical issue delayed them. They still managed two stage victories, finishing fifteenth overall. Finally, Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet also won a stage but finished twenty-ninth after encountering problems and going off the course.

Two TGR crews were unable to complete the 2025 Dakar Rally. The first to retire was the veteran duo of Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz, who were forced to withdraw after the sixth stage when the co-driver suffered neck problems. The second retirement came from Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy, who had been running steadily until the ninth stage. They encountered suspension issues, and an off-road incident eventually brought their effort to an end.

In total, Toyota won eight of the rally’s twelve stages and secured four of the top ten positions in the overall classification.

TGR once again demonstrated its leading position in the world of rally raid, having been crowned 2024 W2RC Manufacturers Champion, achieving its third consecutive title since the championship’s inception in 2022.

The success of the GR DKR Hilux Evo, combined with the experience of TGR’s drivers, co-drivers and engineers, highlights the team’s unwavering commitment to performance, durability and reliability.

Final Classification Dakar Rally 2025

1 Y. Al Rajhi / T. Gottscalk                   (Overdrive Racing)                 52:52.15sec

2 H. Lategan / B. Cummings              (Toyota GAZOO Racing)      +03:57

3 M. Ekström / E. Bergkvist                (Ford M-Sport)                        +20:21

4 N. Al-Attiyah / E. Boulanger             (The Dacia Sandriders)       +23:58

5 M. Guthrie / K. Walch                       (Ford M-Sport)                       +01:02:10

6 M. Serradori / L. Minaudier              (Century Racing Team)        +01:12:04

7 J. Yacopini / D. Oliveras                  (Overdrive Racing)                 +01:57:47

8 J. Ferreira / F. Palmeirp                   (X-Raid Mini JCW Team)         +02:15:57

9 S. Quintero / D. Zenz                       (Toyota GAZOO Racing)       +02:20:04

10 B. Baragwanath / L. Cremer          (Century Racing Team)         +02:59:26