GAZOO Racing has revealed further details about its fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV)* challenge on the 2027 Dakar Rally, including the driver-navigator crew for the gruelling event, as well as the first technical information about the DKR GR FC Hilux.

As part of its commitment to making ever-better motorsports-bred cars, GAZOO Racing will enter the Dakar Future Mission 1000 category, which is dedicated to experimental vehicles and new technologies. This project marks Toyota’s first full-fledged entry in a motorsport competition with a hydrogen-powered FCEV. The project is also a further example of GAZOO Racing utilizing the motorsport arena to train people and develop talent.

Testing Start:

A short and intense development programme involved close cooperation between several parties to create the new DKR GR FC Hilux. Toyota’s European R&D centre near Brussels, Belgium cooperated with Overdrive Racing – which operates the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC team and developed the DKR GR Hilux – as well as TOYOTA RACING GmbH in Cologne and Toyota Motor Corporation.

Construction of the DKR GR FC Hilux is now complete and it is undergoing dynamic testing prior to its competitive debut.

Driver Announcement:

Saudi rally driver, Dania Akeel will drive the DKR GR FC Hilux in testing and in its first competition, the Dakar Rally.

Since starting her rally-raid career in 2021, Akeel has become an experienced and successful competitor. In her first Dakar Rally, she earned a top 10 finish in the T3 class and, became a Dakar Rally stage winner in 2025 in the Challenger category. She went on to successfully secure multi-stage wins during the W2RC 2025 and 2026 seasons and was the Challenger class winner of the W2RC Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. She is also a two-time winner of the FIA Middle East Baja Cup, at the wheel of an Overdrive Racing-entered Toyota Hilux in 2024 and 2025.

Dania Akeel: “This is a great opportunity for me to learn how new technologies are brought to life in the automotive world. To witness such a pioneering venture from the driver’s seat is a truly unique experience, which I hold as both a privilege and a pleasure. And to be able to share my feedback as a driver into the development of these technologies is very special.

In rally-raid our biggest asset as a driver is to be able to race in diverse terrain and conditions requiring us to be flexible and effective in changing environments. Perfect for testing the Reliability and durability of any new car or technology to the limit. And this I believe will also help me enhance my skills by adapting to evolving technologies and to grow as a driver."

Technical Specification:

Based on the same platform as the DKR GR Hilux, the DKR GR FC Hilux uses the same tubular frame, safety cell, suspension and brakes. It is equipped with a high-output unit that combines two fuel cell stacks into a single system and uses the same high-pressure hydrogen tanks as Mirai.

A dedicated e-axle, an IAV Dragoon ECU and a new electronics system have been specifically selected, while innovative solutions such as natural fibre panels – replacing some carbon fibre parts – and a new high-voltage cooling system will also be introduced. The vehicle will run on OPEN COUNTRY tyres from TOYO TIRE.

By combining production parts and advanced technology, GAZOO Racing will test components in the harsh environment of the Dakar Future Mission 1000 category. The experience gained will enable knowledge transfer which can benefit the development of future road cars and fuel cell applications.

With the support of its official sponsor Jameel Motorsport, and partners DENSO, TOYO TIRE and IAV and PRF, Toyota continues to advance its challenge to explore the potential of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in motorsports.

*FCEV: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle. The electricity powering the vehicle is generated on board by the fuel cell from hydrogen, which can be produced from various energy sources, including fossil sources. Emissions can be associated with other aspects of the car's life cycle (including its manufacture, maintenance, end-of-life), from the production of hydrogen fuel and from day-to-day usage, such as from the tyres and brakes.

GAZOO Racing will benefit from the expertise and technology of a world-class roster of official partners for its pioneering Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) entry in the Dakar Rally, to be contested in Saudi Arabia on 1-15 January 2027.

As part of its commitment to making ever-better motorsports-bred cars, GAZOO Racing is developing the DKR GR FC Hilux via Toyota’s European research and development centre near Brussels, Belgium. The prototype will enter the Dakar Future Mission 1000 category, which is dedicated to experimental vehicles and the demonstration of new technologies.

The 2027 Dakar Future Mission 1000 entry marks the first time Toyota has combined hydrogen and fuel cell technology in its motorsport’s activities. The DKR GR FC Hilux aims to prove the performance, safety and reliability of fuel cell technology in the harsh environment of the Dakar Rally, over 13 stages, comprising a total of 1,000 competitive kilometres.

Based on the DKR GR Hilux, which has already proven itself in Dakar’s top category, the DKR GR FC Hilux replaces its petrol engine with Toyota’s fuel cell system. It emits no CO₂ while driving, with water as its only tailpipe emission.

Jameel Motorsport, DENSO, TOYO TIRES and IAV have joined as official partners, sharing GAZOO Racing’s commitment to making ever-better cars through motorsports. With the support of its official partners, Toyota will continue to advance its challenge to unlock the potential of carbon-neutral and hydrogen-related technologies in motorsports.

Toyota welcomes Jameel Motorsport, DENSO, TOYO TIRES and IAV onboard a shared journey on the Dakar Future Mission 1000 and sincerely thank them for their support.

The final assembly of the DKR GR FC Hilux is ongoing at Toyota’s European headquarters prior to a pre-Dakar Rally testing programme.

Jameel Motorsport

Munir Khoja, Managing Director of Jameel Motorsport: “For Jameel Motorsport, becoming a partner for DKR GR FC Hilux was an enticing opportunity to advance and champion sustainable motorsport. Having built our foundation on nurturing Saudi drivers, competing on the world's biggest stages, and achieving landmark milestones, we are now expanding our efforts to focus on manufacturer teams, and the DKR GR FC Hilux represents a natural next step in that journey. In alignment with Saudi Vision 2030, we believe hydrogen has a vital role to play alongside other zero-emission solutions in the motorsport arena, and we are proud to help demonstrate, at the highest levels of competition and engineering, that performance and sustainability can go hand in hand.”

DENSO

Kenichiro Ito, CEO of DENSO INTERNATIONAL EUROPE: “DENSO shares Toyota's vision of advancing carbon-neutral mobility through innovation and real-world challenge. The DKR GR FC Hilux and Mission 1000 represent an inspiring opportunity to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen technology under demanding conditions. We are proud to support Toyota’s hydrogen-powered motorsports and its broader commitment to exploring pathways toward a more sustainable mobility society.”

TOYO TIRES

Junichi Uda, Corporate Officer, Division General Manager, Product Planning Division:

“Through our motorsport’s activities, we strive to enhance our expertise in sustainable product development technologies and contribute to a sustainable mobility society by delivering higher-performance, higher-quality, and more attractive products to customers around the world. Based on this vision, we have decided to support this project, as we fully share and endorse its objectives.”

IAV

Jörg Astalosch, Chief Executive Officer of IAV: “At IAV, we have always believed that the best technologies are developed at the edge of what is possible. For many years, we have been developing fuel cell technologies, combining this expertise with our global engineering capabilities. The Dakar Future Mission 1000 pushes innovative technologies to their limits under challenging conditions and provides a true test of performance and resilience. We are proud that IAV’s product ECU Dragoon powered by our software stack is part of this demanding mission and very pleased to support Toyota on this journey.”

^{*FCEV: Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle}