TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) overcame the harsh desert environment to take victory in Rallye du Maroc, the penultimate round of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

The new-for-2026 DKR GR Hilux demonstrated its improved performance and durability over a variety of difficult terrain on a rally which tested drivers, navigators and vehicles to their limits.

The 1,508 km of timed action featured rocky tracks and spectacular sand dunes – including a section in the Sahara Desert – on a route which created drama and excitement. TGR W2RC started the final day in first and second overall but faced a high-speed final stage over 259 km to secure a double podium finish.

Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short delivered another composed drive to earn their second consecutive W2RC victory. Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings also stood on the podium thanks to their third place. Hilux crews swept the top three, with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa’s João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro finishing second.

Quintero and Short had established a strong foundation for a victory challenge over the opening days before asserting themselves at the front as their rivals fell away. The #203 DKR GR Hilux took the overall lead on the penultimate day and safely navigated Saturday’s finale. Sixth place on Stage 5 confirmed victory by 4 mins 23 secs and elevated the pair into the lead of their respective World Championships.

Lategan and Cummings finished a rollercoaster rally on the podium. The #202 DKR GR Hilux overcame technical issues on Monday to win Stage 2, before losing time as the first car on the road during the following stage. However, they showed strong pace in the final days to move back into podium contention. They held second overall until late in Stage 5 but dropped to third after finishing the day 10th.

Akira Miura and Armand Monleón displayed speed and consistency despite the demanding desert terrain but were denied an overall top-10 finish by technical issues for their #204 DKR GR Hilux on Stage 3. They responded well and recovered positions in the final two stages and ended the rally strongly with 11th place on Stage 5. That left them in 30th overall.

Heading into the final event of the W2RC season, Quintero and Cummings lead their respective World Championships by 14 points. Meanwhile, TGR W2RC is now 46 points behind World Championship leaders Dacia Sandriders, setting up a grandstand finish in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge on 22-27 November.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It was a great race for the team, to get a one-three is awesome for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and I’m really happy about that. We had a tough start and day one put us out of position, so we were a bit on the backfoot from there. We opened the stage on a couple of difficult days, but we tried to recover as much as we could and to get a podium is a great result. Well done Seth and Andrew for taking the win.”

Seth Quintero: “It feels absolutely amazing to win, and to get back-to-back wins is simply incredible. Coming away with the World Championship lead means it’s been a great week. Rallye du Maroc was brutal, but the team worked so hard to give me the car I needed every single day. I couldn’t be happier to be part of this awesome TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC family. Now I’m looking forward to the last round where there is everything to fight for.”

Akira Miura: “Firstly, congratulations to Seth and Andrew for their victory, and to Henk and Brett for finishing on the podium. It’s a great result for the team. These five days have been a good experience for me and Armand. We tried many things with the team and built up our confidence. Of course I was aiming for a better overall result, but we will keep pushing until the end of the season. Thanks to the team and all the TGR fans for their support.”

Rallye du Maroc – Provisional Stage 5 result*

Rallye du Maroc – Provisional result*

*Correct at time of publication

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) delivered a powerful team performance on Stage 4 to take a one-two lead into the final day of Rallye du Maroc, the fourth round of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

Friday’s action consisted of a high-speed 319 km timed section, which featured challenging navigation and a demanding variety of surfaces. The loop north-east of Zagora started on fast-flowing tracks before passing through picturesque valleys, canyons and mountain paths. The two lead DKR GR Hilux enjoyed a trouble-free day as the team took control with just one stage to run.

Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short took the overall lead after around 100 km of Stage 4 and extended their advantage over the remainder of the day. The #203 DKR GR Hilux finished sixth on the stage but more importantly, established a 2 min 45 secs lead at the top of the overall standings. They have the chance to take the lead in the drivers’ World Championship with a clean run on Stage 5.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings completed a perfect day for TGR W2RC in the overall results by moving into second place. After losing time opening Thursday’s stage, they made a rapid start today and quickly regained positions. They briefly took the stage lead within the first 100 km and were in the podium positions throughout, finishing Stage 4 in second place in the #202 DKR GR Hilux.

Akira Miura and Armand Monleón responded to their Stage 3 disappointment with a consistent day to add to their experience of desert conditions. Their challenge for the top 10 was derailed by a mechanical issue for the #204 DKR GR Hilux on Thursday, but they resumed at a competitive pace on Stage 4. Despite running in the dust of competitors ahead of them on the stage, they finished 17th, leaving them 35th overall.

After completing more than 1,000 km of timed sections so far, competitors must conquer one final stage to determine the finishing positions in this year’s Rallye du Maroc. Saturday’s Stage 5 includes a 259 km competitive section, taking crews south of Zagora and back again for the podium ceremony.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “We had a good day. We started 12th on the road and ended up eighth over the finish line so we overtook a few cars along the way. We had a little bit of dust but actually we caught the cars in good places. It was a really fast stage. I was hoping for more corners and tricky bits so we could make up more time, but most of the day was flat-out at top speed. But I’m happy, today feels like redemption after the time we lost yesterday. Now we’re ready to go out and fight on Stage 5.”

Seth Quintero: “It was another amazing day for us. I really feel like we’ve been managing this race well; we’ve pushed when we needed to and turned it down when we needed to. The DKR GR Hilux is performing brilliantly, and the team is doing a great job too. So now we’re in the lead by over two minutes and it’s incredible. There’s one more big day ahead of us and I’m sure our competitors will throw everything they’ve got at us.”

Akira Miura: “It was a nice stage and I enjoyed it. The route and the conditions felt a lot like the Dakar. Just like yesterday we tried to push, but we were running in dust for long periods, so it was difficult to keep up a good pace. Tomorrow we should have a better starting position and that should help. The target is to get to the end of this tough rally.”

Rallye du Maroc – Provisional Stage 4 result*

Rallye du Maroc – Provisional standings after Stage 4*

*Correct at time of publication

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) overcame a demanding Stage 3 of the Rallye du Maroc to strengthen its chances in the fourth round of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

Harsh conditions and changing surfaces put the crews to the test on an incident-filled day in the Moroccan desert, which ended with two DKR GR Hilux pickups in the top five.

The 363 km timed section of Stage 3 took crews on a loop north-east towards Errachidia, initially on treacherous rocky tracks. The route then passed through sand dunes on the northern edge of the Sahara Desert during a fast final section on the return to Zagora.

Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short stayed on course to close the gap to the World Championship leaders. They lost three minutes very early on Stage 3 but responded well with consistent pace to regain ground. The #203 DKR GR Hilux took third place in the final kilometres and is now second overall, just 3 mins 20 secs behind the new leaders, Carlos Sainz and David Oliveras (Ford Racing)

After winning Stage 2, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings faced the additional difficulty of being the first car on stage today. They ran in the podium positions early on but slipped back due to a combination of a puncture, a one-minute penalty and navigational challenges. Despite finishing the stage in 12th, the #202 DKR GR Hilux remains well placed in the overall standings in fifth, just over two minutes off the podium with two stages and 643 km of timed action remaining.

Akira Miura and Armand Monleón initially continued their strong form in Morocco and ran inside the top 10 for much of Stage 3. However, their good progress ended in the final 100 km when their #204 DKR GR Hilux stopped with a mechanical issue. They resumed after a long delay, and are now 44th overall.

Only two stages remain in this year’s Rallye du Maroc. Friday’s action features the longest timed stage of the event, at 384 km, which heads north-east of Zagora on a loop. The rally concludes on Saturday with a 259 km competitive section.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It wasn’t a good day for us. We had to open the road, which is always tricky, especially today in the dunes. We were going well, and the times were looking good, until just after 100 km. Then it started to go wrong. It was tricky opening the dunes because there were no lines and it was very difficult to see the route. We made it safely through, but then we missed the road in one spot, then had a puncture, then got lost again. We lost a lot of time, and it wasn’t our cleanest day, but we’re still in it and we’ll push flat-out tomorrow.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a decent day for us, but it was very difficult. There were a lot of dangers that were not well marked. The team did an amazing job to get the car to the end without problems on a stage like this. It’s very impressive and shows the durability of the DKR GR Hilux. We managed as best we could and ended up third on stage and second overall. So, everything is still to play for, and the championship is looking better every day. I’ll keep working hard to keep this going.”

Akira Miura: “We had some bad luck today, unfortunately. We were pushing a bit more than yesterday and we were looking good, with some strong pace. But we suffered a technical problem with less than 100 km left in the stage, which was a pity. But we are still in the rally and we’ll keep pushing tomorrow.”

Rallye du Maroc – Provisional Stage 3 result*

Rallye du Maroc – Provisional standings after Stage 3*

*Correct at time of publication

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) won Stage 2 of the Rallye du Maroc and moved into contention for overall victory after a gruelling day of action across harsh terrain in the penultimate round of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

In temperatures of more than 30°C, the 300 km timed section of Stage 2 was particularly challenging with regularly changing conditions testing both crews and their DKR GR Hilux pickups.  

Starting at more than 1,000 metres above sea level, the route began south-west of Zagora and descended sharply on rocky tracks before the first sandy section, through dried riverbeds. Sand dunes followed before the stage looped eastwards and the terrain alternated between slow, rocky surfaces and soft sand through to the finish. Despite the difficulties, TGR W2RC made progress and has the podium in its sights, with two cars in the top 10.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings – 10th after Stage 1 – fought for victory from the beginning. They took the lead inside the opening half of the stage, before dropping to second going into the final kilometres. However, they reclaimed top spot shortly before the end and earned a stage win which moves the #202 DKR GR Hilux into second overall, just 28 seconds behind leaders Lucas Moraes and Pablo Moreno (Dacia Sandriders).

Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short started the day in seventh and initially lost ground early in Stage 2. However, they worked hard to minimise the damage and stay on course to earn valuable World Championship points after finishing Stage 2 in seventh. The #203 DKR GR Hilux remains seventh overall, within three minutes of the podium positions.

Akira Miura and Armand Monleón built on their strong performance in the opening stage by continuing to gain positions in the overall standings in the #204 DKR GR Hilux. They finished the stage in 15th place and have climbed to 14th overall.

The crews have three days and more than 1,000 km of competition remaining, continuing on Thursday with Stage 3. It consists of another loop around Zagora, this time touching the northern edge of the Sahara Desert on a 591 km route which includes a 363 km timed section.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It was a really nice day, much better than yesterday. The car was performing really well, mechanically sound all day. The goal this morning was not to get out of the car and we managed that. Brett did a great job on the navigation. I just managed the pace and tried to make sure we didn’t get punctures or other trouble. I’m really happy with how it went. It has been a big day for us, and we’ve pulled ourselves back into contention. Now we have to open the road, which is always difficult, but we’ll keep pushing.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a decent day for us, just unfortunate that we had some navigation errors which cost us a few minutes. We are five minutes off the overall lead, which is not the best position, but we will push to improve it. It was an amazing job for Henk to get the win. It’s awesome for the team, and brings good points, so I’m super happy for him. For us, we are in front of our championship rivals and hopefully we can keep it that way. There are three long days to go.”

Akira Miura: “It was a difficult stage because we had to change our pace depending on the terrain to manage the risks. It was not easy, but we made it without trouble. The dune section was great fun. We pushed and really felt the sand surfing. Navigation was tricky today, but Armand helped a lot and allowed us to continue at a good pace. We’ll try to keep this going consistently and get more experience over the rest of the rally.”

Rallye du Maroc – Provisional Stage 2 result*

Rallye du Maroc – Provisional standings after Stage 2*

*Correct at time of publication

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) overcame adversity to stay in the fight after the opening day of Rallye du Maroc, the penultimate round of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

Three DKR GR Hilux pickups took the start in North Africa as the team looked to maintain the positive momentum from victory in the previous round in Argentina in May. Challenging terrain and gruelling conditions made life difficult for the crews, but TGR W2RC ended the opening day with two cars in the top 10.

In temperatures exceeding 30°C, Stage 1 took crews eastwards from the coastal city of Agadir to Zagora, near the Algerian border. Competitors faced a stony surface on a steep descent during the opening section before a gradual climb as the route became faster and passed through large sand dunes.

The stage began with an extremely close fight and just 10 seconds separated the top five, including two DKR GR Hilux, after 100 km of competition. However, soon after, both the leading DKR GR Hilux hit trouble which compromised their performance on the remainder of their stage.

Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short – who are just 13 points off the World Championship lead after victory in Argentina – started third on the road and were in podium contention in the early stages. The #203 DKR GR Hilux lost time with a puncture, but they nevertheless ended the day in a promising seventh, 3mins 28secs off the lead.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings were running as high as third after 100 km before dropping back, also due to a puncture and other issues. Despite that, the #202 DKR GR Hilux crew was 10th, 5mins 17secs behind the stage-winning TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa duo of Joao Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro.

Akira Miura completed another productive day alongside his experienced navigator Armand Monleón. Multiple Dakar Rally class winner Miura is in his first season of top-level W2RC competition and gained more experience of desert conditions during Stage 1. Consistent, strong pace saw the #204 DKR GR Hilux move up the order during the day, and they were running in 15th before a late puncture dropped them to 18th place.

The challenge continues on Wednesday’s Stage 2. The 423 km route travels into the desert on a loop south-west of Zagora, and includes 300 km of competitive action on a mix of rocky tracks and sand dunes.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It was not the day we were hoping for because we had to do damage limitation. It was going okay for the first 100 km; we were running a good pace. Then we were in the dust of a bike and hit a rock, which gave us a puncture. Shortly after that, we experienced a technical issue. We had a long way to go, so we were just nursing the car to the finish. I’m a bit frustrated, but that can happen when you try new things. It’s not over. We have plenty of time to catch up, we have a nice road position, and this race will have more things to say.”

Seth Quintero: “The car was working really well early in the stage, and we were moving up the rankings. Being third on the road wasn’t easy but we did a very good job in the first 100 km. Unfortunately, we got a puncture and the jack wouldn’t come down, so we lost some time. Then we had to manage a technical issue and just make sure we got the car to the finish line. Despite that, I’m happy with the result considering we were among the first cars on stage. Our championship rivals are behind us, so it was a good day.”

Akira Miura: “It was tough stage, because we were running in the dust a lot of the time. But both Armand and I stayed concentrated, and we could keep up a steady pace. The result could have been even better if it wasn’t for the puncture 30 km before the end. Despite that, it was a good day overall and we have a decent starting position for Stage 2. We’ll keep pushing together with the team to get the best possible result.”

Rallye du Maroc – Provisional Stage 1 result*

   *Correct at time of publication

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}

The project represents a new challenge to demonstrate hydrogen fuel cell technology in the demanding conditions of the Dakar Rally. 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.

Read the full press release IN ENGLISH and IN JAPANESE. 

Born from motorsport rivalry and shaped by uncompromising feedback from the world’s most demanding circuits, the GR GT and GR GT3 embody GAZOO Racing’s philosophy of learning through competition. The Lexus LFA Concept builds on competition-honed insights and technologies, translating them into values that resonate directly with driver in an immersive, multi-sensory experience in which man and machine can feel as one.

They follow a bloodline established by past icons such as the Toyota 2000GT and Lexus LFA, reflecting the belief of Chairman Akio Toyoda, aka Master Driver Morizo, that the skills of sports car craftsmanship must be nurtured and passed on to future generations.

It’s an approach inspired by the principle of “Shikinen Sengu”, an ancient Japanese ritual in which a Shinto shrine is dismantled and rebuilt once in every generation to preserve and enhance the craftsmanship skills used in its creation.

The GR GT is a track-inspired road car with racing DNA, powered by a new 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine paired with a single-motor hybrid system. In addition to high power and torque for exceptional performance, the car’s development focused on achieving a low centre of gravity, low weight with high rigidity, and aerodynamic performance.

The GR GT3 shares the GR GT’s core elements but has a different profile as a track-focused race car. It’s engineered to be highly competitive and deliver accessible performance.

Looking ahead, the Lexus LFA Concept presents Lexus’ vision for a next-generation electric sports car. It shares common technologies and aspirations with the GR GT and GR GT3, while blending advanced performance with emotional appeal and invoking the spirit of the original LFA. It aims to exceed customers’ expectations, drawing the driver into an immersive experience like no other.

The GR GT and GR GT3 will be on show and in action at the festival, appearing in the Supercar Paddock and making speed runs on the famous hill climb. Defined by steep gradients, tight corners and unforgiving barriers, the hill climb is one of motorsport’s most technical short courses for demonstrating acceleration, agility, aerodynamic stability and driver confidence. This will be the first European dynamic uncamouflaged appearance for both models. Meanwhile, visitors will be given a first close-up view of the Lexus LFA Concept in the Supercar Paddock.

GAZOO Racing’s competition stars

GAZOO Racing’s participation at the top tiers of international motorsport will be celebrated at the festival with appearances by the GR YARIS Rally1, the car which has delivered multiple World Rally Championship titles for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team, and the DKR GR Hilux, a winning contender in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship.

A line-up of championship-winning and internationally renowned drivers will be demonstrating the cars’ performance on the hill climb and rally stage. Subject to confirmation, it will include all TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team’s drivers: the nine-time and reigning World Rally Champion Driver Sébastien Ogier; current WRC leader Elfyn Evans; Japanese star Takamoto Katsuta; team newcomer and Rallye Monte-Carlo victor Oliver Solberg; and Sami Pajari, a past WRC Junior and WRC2 champion.  Henk Lategan, a winner with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship and four-time South African champion, is set to take the wheel of the DKR GR Hilux.

TOYOTA RACING: from Le Mans podium to Goodwood

TOYOTA RACING will display the #7 TR010 HYBRID that recently achieved Toyota’s sixth victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours, driven by Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries. The team’s hard-fought victory in one of the world’s most challenging circuit races took the team to the top of the driver and manufacturer championship standings in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship. The car will be on static view alongside the GR YARIS Rally1 and DKR GR Hilux.

Road cars infused with GAZOO Racing performance and design

The knowledge and experience gained by GAZOO Racing in the heat of competition feeds directly into the development of ever-better cars for the road. At Goodwood, this philosophy will be demonstrated by the GR Yaris Aero Performance, the latest development of the multi-award-winning performance hatchback. Also taking part in the festival’s “First Glance” programme will be the all-new RAV4 GR Sport, a version of the plug-in hybrid SUV that benefits from both GR-themed design details and a chassis and suspension tuned for sportier handling.

*The GR GT and GR GT3 cars appearing at the festival will be prototype/development vehicles.

The team’s DKR GR Hilux pickups conquered challenging terrain over five days in the spectacular Andes mountains to win for the first time this season and strengthen its World Championship challenge.

TGR W2RC headed into the final day leading the rally but facing a demanding Stage 5, which took place on rough dirt roads around San Juan, and began with a steep climb to 3,323 m. The 340 km distance included an untimed 114 km transfer zone between timed sections.

Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short started Stage 5 with a slender seven-second lead in their #203 DKR GR Hilux after more than 1,000 km of competition. A strong start saw them lead the stage early on until two punctures cost time. They responded in style to earn a stage podium for third and take the rally victory, their first-ever overall W2RC win.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings were third after Stage 4, still within two minutes of the rally lead in their #202 DKR GR Hilux. However, a three-minute penalty for late check-in at a time control severely dented their chances of victory before the final stage began. They fought back to win Stage 5 with a dominant performance which earned second place overall.

Akira Miura and Armand Monleón had reached the overall top 10 before Thursday’s penultimate stage, which they were unable to complete. Despite a penalty of 12 hours 30 minutes, they started Stage 5 to gain valuable experience in just their second W2RC rally together in the #204 DKR GR Hilux. However, a suspension issue meant they were unable to complete the stage and did not complete the rally.

TGR W2RC are second in the manufacturers’ World Championship, 65 points behind leaders Dacia Sandriders. Quintero and Short are third in the drivers’ and navigators’ standings respectively, just 13 points off the lead. Their title challenge will resume at the fourth of five rounds this season, the Rallye du Maroc, which starts on 28 September.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “I’m happy for the team to get this one-two. Congratulations to Seth and Andrew, I’m happy for them. It was a tough battle between the top four cars and a great race. For us it was unfortunate about the penalty, which felt a bit harsh. I’m still happy to get the second place and to have been quickest over the stages. I’m happy to pull off a result like this on our first time in Argentina. It’s an awesome race, awesome scenery, spectacular stages and amazing people. It has been a pleasure.”

Seth Quintero: “It has been a very good week for us. We tried our absolute best every single day. TGR W2RC gave me the tools to do what I needed to do, and we came away with the victory. It feels amazing. I am really happy to win here in front of all these fantastic fans and to give TGR W2RC this victory. We have been working so hard this year. Everyone’s hard work paid off and I’m glad I could finally achieve this for them because I am so thankful to be part of this family.”

Akira Miura: “We experienced many things in this rally, some good, some not so good. But that’s motorsports. I feel like we improved a lot since Portugal and we showed this by getting into the overall top 10 after Stage 3. After that we had some issues so we couldn’t complete the rally. But it all adds to my experience. I want to say thank you to Armand and the whole TGR W2RC team. Together we will improve every day.”

Desafío Ruta 40 – Provisional Stage 5 result*

Desafío Ruta 40 – Provisional result*

*Correct at time of publication

Stage 4 was another long and rugged test for drivers and navigators through the spectacular landscape of the Andes mountains. It began with a steep, winding climb to a 3,110 m mountain top and featured ravines, rocks and narrow, rough trails over 306 km of timed action on the route back to San Juan.

The team’s one-two victory on Stage 3 meant its leading DKR GR Hilux pickups were first out on Thursday’s stage, creating an additional navigational challenge. Punctures over the rugged landscape further hampered the crews, but a day of damage limitation kept TGR W2RC on top of the overall standings.

Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short – second after Stage 3 – lost time in the dust of another competitor, before two punctures cost further time. However, a strong fightback moved them into the top six on the stage and strengthened their victory challenge. A fast final section for the #203 DKR GR Hilux earned fifth on Stage 4 and the overall lead, by just seven seconds from Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders).

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings started the day as the overall leaders and were therefore first on the road. The #202 DKR GR Hilux lost further time due to two punctures but, despite a difficult day, they recovered to eighth place on Stage 4. They are now third overall, less than two minutes off the lead going into the final day.

After a strong day on Stage 3 to move into the overall top 10, Akira Miura and Armand Monleón suffered disappointment early in Stage 4. Their #204 DKR GR Hilux stopped within the first 100 km after suffering an upright issue and multiple punctures. They were given a

After a hard-fought and incident-packed penultimate day, competitors face a relatively long Stage 5 on Friday. The rally’s last stage includes 340 km of timed action around San Juan to decide the final positions.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It was a difficult day for us. Opening the road was really tricky because it was very difficult to know where to go. There were many parallel roads and a lot of narrow sections. I also struggled with the power steering in the morning. It got a bit better towards the end, but hopefully the team can figure out the issue. We also had two punctures, so we had to back off because we had no more spare tyres. We just made sure we got to the end, so we are able to fight again tomorrow.”

Seth Quintero: “It has been a really frustrating day for us. We caught Sébastien Loeb very quickly, after around 80 km, and we were stuck in his dust for quite a while. Then we did our absolute best to make up time. Unfortunately, after around 170 km we got a puncture, then about 30 km later we got another. It is really frustrating to have punctures dictate our day. But we will keep fighting. We are first overall, so all things considered it wasn’t a terrible day, but it could have been better. I’m looking forward to continuing the battle and hopefully we can bring it home tomorrow.”

Desafío Ruta 40 – Provisional Stage 4 result*

Desafío Ruta 40 – Provisional standings after Stage 4*

*Correct at time of publication

Large crowds gathered to watch the W2RC field take on the most demanding day of the rally so far. TGR W2RC and its DKR GR Hilux pickups rose to the challenge and emerged from more than four gruelling hours of flat-out competition in first and second place overall.

The difficult Stage 3 route took competitors into the Andes mountains and included a 409 km timed section. It started on winding sandy tracks before a long, fast section through dunes and dried riverbeds. The spectacular drive ended with a steep climb to 2,715 m along winding snow-lined paths.

Henk Lategan and navigator Brett Cummings delivered a dominant performance, leading from the early stages in their #202 DKR GR Hilux. Despite the varied terrain, they consistently set the pace to win the stage and take the overall lead.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short started the day in second overall in their #203 DKR GR Hilux. They suffered early misfortune with a puncture followed by a damper change which cost time. After that, the pair relentlessly closed in on the podium positions and took third place in the final kilometres. They remain second overall, 1 minute 39 seconds behind their team-mates.

Akira Miura and Armand Monleón showed consistency despite the challenging route to make progress up the standings. The #204 DKR GR Hilux reached the end in San Rafael in 11th on Stage 3 and is now 10th overall.

There is no rest for the crews after Wednesday’s lengthy timed section. The penultimate stage of the event on Thursday takes crews back to San Juan via a 324 km special stage.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It was a really good day for us. We decided this morning to push so we went for it straight out of the blocks, but at the same time looking after the car. The terrain was really challenging and varied. We started with sand and dunes at the beginning and ended up with ice and snow next to the road at the end because of the altitude. It was a spectacular stage, with beautiful views, and very enjoyable to drive. The car performed well so a big well done to the team.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a challenging day. We got a puncture very early then broke a damper after around 50-60 kilometres. But we did our best to bring it to the transfer zone where we could replace the damper. I drove as well as I could after that and somehow, we still ended up third. We’re second overall right next to our team-mates which is really good for the team. We’ll try to continue like this and bring it home.”

Akira Miura: “It was a long, long day but a good one, and I’m happy to have moved into the overall top 10 at the end of it. I enjoyed driving today and I feel like I am gaining more and more confidence with the DKR GR Hilux. The navigation was difficult at some points, but Armand did a great job and that helped me stay concentrated and just focus on driving.”

Desafío Ruta 40 – Provisional Stage 3 result*

Desafío Ruta 40 – Provisional standings after Stage 3*

*Correct at time of publication

After two DKR GR Hilux finished in the top six on the opening stage, the crews stepped up a gear on Tuesday as TGR W2RC strengthened its overall position. Stage 2 consisted of a relatively short 128 km timed section, featuring steep climbs and descents on mostly sandy tracks, with dense vegetation and potholes adding to the challenge. The day finished with a mammoth 506 km road trip south to the city of San Rafael.

After finishing fourth on the opening stage, Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short suffered an early puncture to dent their podium challenge on Stage 2. But the pair fought back strongly in their #203 DKR GR Hilux to move up in the overall standings. They finished sixth on the day and are now second overall, just nine seconds behind new leaders Joao Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa).

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings – sixth at the start of the day – took a cautious approach to the opening section of Stage 2. However, conditions later in the stage were more suited to the set-up of their #202 DKR GR Hilux, allowing them to pick up the pace and move up to eighth. They are now fourth in the overall standings, just over a minute away from the podium places.

Akira Miura and Armand Monleón also made progress in the #204 DKR GR Hilux to complete a positive day for TGR W2RC. They finished a creditable 15th on Stage 2, helping them up to 16th overall, around seven minutes from the top 10.

After two of the rally’s five stages, crews now face the longest timed section of the event on Wednesday, which represents a defining day in the battle for overall positions. At 409 km, it takes competitors into the Andes mountains and up to a peak altitude of 2,715 m on a loop south-west of San Rafael.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It was difficult in the beginning because I was struggling with the car in the tight and twisty parts. We had made a change on the set-up, but it was the wrong direction, so we will fix that for tomorrow. We weren’t taking any risks and kept it clean, with no punctures. Towards the end the car was better suited to the terrain. It was an okay day, and we learned something on the set-up which will be important for tomorrow, which is a long one. We seem to be in a good position.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a good day again for us. Unfortunately, we got a puncture after just six kilometres so we knew we had to make up time after that. I drove well and the DKR GR Hilux was absolutely amazing – TGR W2RC keep giving me the tools to succeed. We are second overall now, just nine seconds down, and in a great start position for tomorrow. We know it’s not going to get easier from here but I’m looking forward to the rest of the rally.”

Akira Miura: “It was a technical stage today. During the first part I couldn’t push as hard as I wanted because it was very twisty and narrow between the trees. But the second part was better and I could push harder. It was good fun, especially the jumps. Now I’m looking forward to the long stage tomorrow.”

Desafío Ruta 40 – Provisional Stage 2 result*

Desafío Ruta 40 – Provisional standings after Stage 2*

*Ultimate class, correct at time of publication

Stage 1 took place north of San Juan on Monday. It included 340 km of timed action on dried riverbeds, salt flats and gravel plains through the spectacular Andes mountains. As well as the rugged off-road conditions, crews also had to contend with altitudes of up to 988 metres.

Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short – runners-up on the last event in Portugal in March – are third in the drivers’ and navigators’ World Championships. Despite the handicap of being among the first cars on the stage, their #203 DKR GR Hilux was fastest early on Stage 1. They kept up a strong pace and ended the day part of an intense fight for the overall podium. They finished fourth, 1 min 37 secs behind the leaders, Eryk Goczal and Szymon Gospadarczyk, in a Toyota Hilux from Energylandia Rally Team.

A strong performance in the second half of the stage saw Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings move into the top six in their #202 DKR GR Hilux. An early puncture had dropped them out of the top 10, but they soon showed their speed, despite running in the dust of competitors ahead, and finished sixth, 3 mins 22 secs behind.

Akira Miura, in just his second rally with TGR W2RC, showed consistency alongside navigator Armand Monleón in the #204 DKR GR Hilux. Despite a puncture and damaged windscreen, they gained positions during the stage and reached the end of Stage 1 in 17th in the Ultimate class, less than five minutes away from the top 10.

Tuesday sees the second of five stages on the Desafío Ruta 40, taking crews on a route south from San Juan. In addition to a 128 km special stage, it includes 506 km of driving on public roads to reach the city of San Rafael.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “This was my first experience of rally-raid in Argentina, and it was really nice. The roads here are awesome. I didn’t get off to the best start with the puncture early on, but we got going from there. We were a bit cautious in the beginning, but started picking up the pace. Unfortunately, we caught up the guys in front, and we sat in their dust for quite a long time. You can almost see the car in front, but you can’t get close enough to overtake.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a good day for me and TGR W2RC. It was very difficult to start up front in a field with this much talent, and to finish fourth was not easy. I am proud of Andrew and the team for what we accomplished today. The DKR GR Hilux was absolutely amazing, with zero issues and no flat tyres. The car allowed me to drive how I wanted to, so I am thankful for the team’s hard work. Andrew and I are working hard to fight for this championship; today was good and we’ll keep pushing for the rest of the rally.”

Akira Miura: “The TGR W2RC team worked hard to prepare for this rally and they gave us a strong car. I started the stage feeling like we were in good shape, but there were some tricky moments for us today. We lost some time with a flat tyre, and I also lost the windscreen which made it harder. But we’ll push hard to have a better day on Stage 2.”

Desafío Ruta 40 – Provisional Stage 1 result*

*Ultimate class, correct at time of publication

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short demonstrated speed and consistency throughout the five days, which included 1,271 km of timed action, and took second place overall in their #203 DKR GR Hilux on Sunday’s final stage. That means the all-new DKR GR Hilux – which features a new tubular chassis and a stronger transmission – earned a podium in just its second W2RC rally, following a stage-winning performance on the season-opening Dakar Rally.

A short but spectacular Stage 5 took place in the mountains around the town of Loulé on Portugal’s Algarve coast. The fast and twisty route took competitors along ridges and through valleys on difficult terrain, testing their concentration to the limit.

Quintero and Short started the day in second overall and completed a steady run on Stage 5. They finished fifth, 42 seconds off stage winners Lucas Moraes and Dennis Zenz (Dacia Sandriders) and secured the overall runners-up spot behind overall winners Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders).

Akira Miura successfully completed his first event with TGR W2RC, alongside Armand Monleón. The Japanese driver – a five-time Dakar Rally class winner – showed his rally raid experience by safely navigating treacherous conditions and changing weather throughout the week.

Despite rain and slippery, muddy surfaces, Miura avoided major incidents and displayed consistency as he continues to get to grips with the #204 DKR GR Hilux. Miura and Monleón were 18th-fastest of the Ultimate competitors on Stage 5 and moved up to 14th in class overall on their first W2RC rally together.

Only two of the team’s DKR GR Hilux made it to the finish line in Loulé, following the retirement of Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings after a high-speed roll in their #202 DKR GR Hilux early on Friday’s Stage 3. The pair had previously lost time and dropped out of the top 10 on Stage 1 after an impact with a tree.

All three crews will return to action with TGR W2RC when round three of the 2026 W2RC season takes place in Argentina on 24-29 May. The Desafío Ruta 40 – returning to the W2RC calendar after a one-year break – features stunning natural landscapes across a variety of demanding terrains.

Quotes:

Seth Quintero: “It was a good rally for us. The team did an absolutely amazing job and to get the first podium for the new car so quickly is very nice – it gives us a lot of confidence for the next races. I feel like I have made a lot of improvements with my driving and Andrew has improved in terms of navigation, so together we have made a big push. I’m very happy with second overall because it’s not easy to finish on the podium in the W2RC, against so many talented competitors. We had a clean rally and a lot of fun. We know there is more pace in the DKR GR Hilux so I’m looking forward to continuing to grow and develop with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC.”  

Akira Miura: “I am pleased to complete Rally Raid Portugal and increase my experience of driving the DKR GR Hilux. I would like to thank Armand and all the engineers, mechanics and other TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC team members who supported me this week. It was not an easy rally with the conditions but I’m happy to reach the end. This is the start of my second career in rally raid, and I still have lots to learn but I am happy to be living my dream with this team.”

BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional Stage 5 result*

BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional result*

*Ultimate class, correct at time of publication

Stage 4 featured 317 km of competitive action across rough, muddy terrain heading south to Loulé on Portugal’s Algarve coast. A demanding route featured narrow tracks, which were uneven and treacherous in parts following recent rain.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short began the day firmly in the hunt for victory after a strong, but frustrating, Friday, when they seemed set to take the overall lead until suffering two punctures late in the stage. The pair were again among the front-runners on Stage 4 and challenged for the podium positions from the start.

Despite briefly moving into the top three towards the end of the stage, Quintero and Short finished fourth, just three seconds away from the podium and one minute 21 seconds behind winners João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa.

However, another consistent run strengthened the #203 DKR GR Hilux’s hold on second overall, albeit it now two minutes 30 seconds behind leaders Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders).

Akira Miura continued to add to his growing experience of the #204 DKR GR Hilux. The TGR W2RC debutant, driving alongside navigator Armand Monleón, had a late starting position, meaning he encountered even more difficult stage conditions than the leaders. They lost time in the early stages but battled the elements and finished 17th in the Ultimate class on Stage 4, moving up to 14th overall.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings did not feature on Stage 4 following their rally-ending incident on Friday. The damage sustained to the #202 DKR GR Hilux in a high-speed roll early in the stage could not be repaired in time for Stage 5.

The rally concludes on Sunday with a relatively short Stage 5, comprising a 101 km competitive section around the town of Loulé, where the podium ceremonies will be held.

Quotes:

Seth Quintero: “It was a good day for us. I wasn’t willing to take the risks that some of the other guys were but all in all, it was a strong stage from us. We have pulled out a gap in second, which is positive as well. We are two minutes from the lead but anything can happen in rally, so we’ll keep fighting to get the win. Overall, the team has done really well, and the car has been amazing. We will continue to push on the last day and see where we end up at the end.”

Akira Miura: “Thanks to the team for working so hard again. They have really done the best for me and Armand. Today went quite well and I’m working better and better with Armand every day. When we had dry conditions I could really enjoy the stage and the performance of the DKR GR Hilux, so I am pleased with how it went. I’m looking forward to a good day to finish this rally.”

BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional Stage 4 result*

BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional standings after Stage 4*

*Ultimate class, correct at time of publication

Friday’s Stage 3 was the fastest of the event and took crews on a 296 km loop around the Spanish city of Badajoz on treacherous, muddy terrain.

The high-speed stage suited Seth Quintero and Andrew Short, who started the day third overall. They moved into the lead in the early stages, maintaining an intense pace to close the gap on the overall leaders.

By half distance, the #203 DKR GR Hilux led both the stage and the overall rankings. However, a dramatic conclusion to the stage saw Quintero and Short suffer two punctures and miss out on the podium by just two seconds. They finished fourth, two minutes 20 seconds behind stage winners Lucas Moraes and Dennis Zenz (Dacia Sandriders).

In the overall standings, Quintero and Short moved up to second place, with two stages and 418 km of timed action remaining in which to overhaul the one minute 27 second gap to leaders Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders).

Stage 3 featured drama of the wrong kind for Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings. After losing time on Wednesday due to contact with a tree, the pair suffered another blow when the #202 DKR GR Hilux rolled out of the stage after 62 km. They are unable to resume on Saturday and therefore retired from the event.

Akira Miura continued to build his experience of the #204 DKR GR Hilux in different conditions, on his TGR W2RC debut. Alongside navigator Armand Monleón, Miura again completed a clean and consistent day, finishing 16th on Stage 3 and moving into 15th overall.

The penultimate stage of the event takes place on Saturday with 317 km of competitive action on a route heading south to Loulé on Portugal’s Algarve coast.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “Today was the end of our race unfortunately. We came over a blind crest and into a sharp right-hander. We were at quite high speed and didn’t have enough time to slow down. I tried to go for a small gap between a tree and some rocks but unfortunately under the grass there was a dip and a small wall. That kicked the back of the car up and it went end-over-end. The car took a lot of damage, but me and Brett are fine. The car is too damaged to carry on tomorrow. I feel sorry for the team and, of course, disappointed, but we will come back stronger.”  

Seth Quintero: “It was a good day for us, but a bit frustrating. We had really good pace and quite a lead, but then unfortunately we got unlucky with two punctures. There was nothing I could do – these things happen in racing. But we’ll keep looking forward. We have two more days to go and we’re not far off the lead, so we’ll keep pushing until the finish line.”   

Akira Miura: “This third stage was on wider tracks than the previous two days, but it was still difficult, particularly because of the rain. There was very little grip at times, so I played it safe and prioritised getting to the end. The important thing is to gather more experience of the DKR GR Hilux in these conditions so I’m happy to have completed a lot more kilometres.”

BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional Stage 3 result*

BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional standings after Stage 3*

*Ultimate class, correct at time of publication

On a wet and wild day, the 377 km Stage 2 began in Grândola in Portugal and started with a winding journey through muddy, tree-lined terrain, featuring numerous water crossings. Crews then encountered fast and twisty mountain tracks across the border en route to the Spanish city of Badajoz, where the stage concluded.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short began the day in second overall, just 17 secs off the lead, and despite an early starting position, kept themselves within touching distance of the overall lead throughout. They ran in the stage top six from the beginning and were in the top-three by half distance.

The battle for honours intensified and, after encountering dust from a competitor ahead, the #203 DKR GR Hilux finished third, 64 secs behind winners and overall leaders Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders). Quintero and Short are now third overall, just 53 secs off the lead with more than 700 km of competitive action remaining.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings set a strong pace as they attempted to recover time following their opening day dramas. They finished Stage 2 in a competitive fifth place, but the 36-minute deficit caused by Wednesday’s issues leaves the #202 DKR GR Hilux 19th overall in the Ultimate class.

TGR W2RC debutant Akira Miura continued to gather valuable experience at the wheel of the #204 DKR GR Hilux he shares with Armand Monleón. The multiple Dakar Rally class winner showed consistency and control on his way to 21st on Stage 2, for 20th in the Ultimate class overall.

All three DKR GR Hilux will battle to move up the standings during Friday’s Stage 3, which is the fastest of the rally and includes 296 km of timed action on a loop close to Badajoz.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “Today was better than yesterday, even though we did manage to hit a tree again. This time we got away with just some damaged body panels; the car was mechanically fine. We struggled a bit today and it was tricky with the weather. It’s the same for everyone but our starting position didn’t help because the road got a bit messy, with the cars ahead dragging mud onto the road. But we recovered pretty well to get a better road position tomorrow, which will hopefully be a better day.”  

Seth Quintero: “It’s been a really good day for us. It was a bit tricky starting out front with the mud, but we picked up the pace when we could and played a smart strategy. That helped us gain some time and stay in a strong position. In the last 75 km we lost quite a bit of time with some dust, but that’s typical for this rally and we knew it was a risk. There are three long days to go. Tomorrow should be faster so we’re looking forward to it and we’ll keep pushing.”  

Akira Miura: “I have to say big thanks to the team, and to Armand, for their continued support. Stage 2 was very tricky, particularly the first 100 km which were narrow, slippery and with dangerous blind corners. I didn’t take any risks early in the stage but after the middle point, it dried up and I felt more grip. So, I worked on finding the best way to get maximum performance from the DKR GR Hilux.”

BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional Stage 2 result*

BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional standings*

*Ultimate class, correct at time of publication

Following an eight-week break since the season-opening Dakar Rally, the DKR GR Hilux crews returned to FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) competition for round two of the 2026 season, taking place in Portugal and Spain.

The opening day’s action was split across two sections. The first took crews through a fast 177 km loop across tree-lined terrain which was muddy in parts after recent heavy rain. A road section brought competitors back towards the Grândola service park for a technical and twisty 3 km timed section to conclude the day.

After demonstrating its strong potential by earning stage wins and challenging for overall victory on the Dakar Rally in January, the all-new DKR GR Hilux made its European competitive debut in Portugal. It features a new tubular chassis for increased torsional stiffness and reduced weight, as well as a stronger transmission.

On very different terrain to the Saudi desert, Seth Quintero and Andrew Short again showed they are a force to be reckoned with. The #203 was on the pace from the start. After an intense fight at the front, Quintero and Short finished the opening day in second, just 17 seconds behind pace setters João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa.

Multiple Dakar Rally class winner Akira Miura is competing with TGR W2RC for the first time, and just his third time in the Ultimate category of W2RC. The Japanese driver is no rally-raid rookie, however, having won the Stock class of the legendary Dakar Rally five times with a Toyota Land Cruiser.

Miura, competing alongside navigator Armand Monleón, concentrated on building his experience behind the wheel of the #204 DKR GR Hilux he will drive for the remainder of the W2RC season. The pair finished a solid day one in 20th place in the Ultimate class.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings suffered misfortune in their #202 DKR GR Hilux. They damaged the rear suspension in an impact with a tree after around 40 km, necessitating a 30-minute roadside repair and meaning they ended the day 22nd in the Ultimate class and with a mountain to climb to reach the top 10.

After an eventful opening stage, Thursday sees the second of five stages on this edition of Rally Raid Portugal, including the longest competitive section of the rally at 377 km. Competitors will drive the 548 km from Grândola – close to Portugal’s western coast – across the border to the Spanish city of Badajoz.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It was not a good day at the office for us. Early in the stage I made a mistake, got the car sideways, and we slid in between two big trees, which I hit with the right rear. It wasn’t the biggest impact, but it was enough to damage the rear suspension. We tried to carry on but it was doing more damage, so we stopped to repair. That cost us a lot of time, which is a blow for our race hopes, but we will get back in tomorrow and keep pushing. There are still stage points available and constructive things we can try on the car.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a really good, if tricky, day for us. The roads are very unpredictable and narrow, muddy, with lots of water crossings. Very early on we decided it wasn’t worth taking big risks. We just focused on finding our rhythm and it worked out better than expected. We finished second, not far off the stage win, scored some good points and put ourselves in good position for the rest of the rally. I think tomorrow will be tricky and we’ll do our best to get another good result.”  

Akira Miura: “This was my first day competing with TGR W2RC, so it was exciting, but I was also a little bit nervous before start. I had some bad luck during the stage and hit something, but I could still finish. The most important target for me is to finish this rally. I will keep going and push to be better every day.”

BP Rally Raid Portugal – Provisional Stage 1 result*

*Correct at time of publication

Multiple Dakar Rally class winner Akira Miura takes on a new challenge with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) when he strengthens the team’s bid to retain the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) manufacturers’ title.

Emphasising TGR W2RC’s commitment to developing and giving new opportunities to talented drivers, Miura will race a DKR GR Hilux for the remaining four rounds of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), competing alongside navigator Armand Monleón.

The Japanese driver, who has won the Stock class of the legendary Dakar Rally five times with a Toyota Land Cruiser, will make his TGR W2RC debut on Rally-Raid Portugal on March 17-22, one of two W2RC events he previously contested in the Ultimate class.

Last year, Miura competed with a GR Hilux entered by Overdrive Racing in Portugal and South Africa as part of his transition to the Ultimate class.  After finishing fifth in class on this year’s Dakar, he prepared for Rally-Raid Portugal by finishing fifth alongside Monleón on January’s Saudi Baja, in a GR Hilux.

Monleón is a familiar and trusted member of the team, having helped Lucas Moraes win the W2RC drivers’ title last season. He helped two-time motorcycle winner Toby Price make his TGR W2RC debut on this year’s Dakar Rally, demonstrating the experience and mentality required to support Miura’s transition to the Ultimate class.

The pair join TGR W2RC’s regular crews – Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, and Seth Quintero and Andrew Short – for the remaining four rounds of the 2026 W2RC season, featuring events in Portugal, Argentina, Morocco, and Abu Dhabi.

All three crews will race the new DKR GR Hilux, which made its debut on the Dakar Rally. The newly developed vehicle shares the powerful appearance of the ninth-generation Hilux and features a new tubular chassis for increased torsional stiffness and reduced weight, as well as a stronger transmission. It showed immense potential in Saudi Arabia, winning two stages and contending for victory until the closing days.

Quotes:

Akira Miura: “This is a new challenge for me with TGR W2RC, and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity. It’s exciting and of course there is a little pressure. My first time competing with Armand on the Saudi Baja went well and I enjoyed the experience. I am happy to drive with Armand, because he knows the DKR GR Hilux and the W2RC so well. Although I have experience of Rally-Raid Portugal from last season, it will be completely different this year as part of TGR W2RC. I know I have the right car, navigator and team behind me, so I am looking forward to it. I will try to learn as much as I can and consistently improve throughout the season.”

Three DKR GR Hilux lined up for the start on January 3, carrying TGR W2RC’s hopes of overall victory. After overcoming misfortune, technical challenges and the harsh desert environment on the 8,000 km route, all three crossed the finish line in Yanbu, but there was no repeat of last year’s podium finish.

On its competitive debut, the all-new DKR GR Hilux – which benefits from a new tubular chassis and strengthened transmission – demonstrated impressive performance. It earned two stage wins over terrain which ranged from razor-sharp rocks to undulating dunes, and was a contender for victory until the final days.

Two-time motorcycle winner Toby Price and Armand Monleón competed on the Dakar Rally together for the first time. They showed pace and consistency in their #204 DKR GR Hilux and were the top TGR W2RC crew in eighth overall, just 52 minutes behind the winners, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders).

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short were left to rue a costly Stage 3, when a series of punctures cost the #203 DKR GR Hilux over an hour. They showed what might have been over the remaining stages with consistently fast performances, but they could not recover all the time lost and finished ninth.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings fought for overall victory for 10 stages, overcoming a series of punctures, on-stage repairs and even running out of fuel. But a wheel bearing issue on Stage 11, while running second overall, finally ended the hopes of the #202 DKR GR Hilux crew. However, their never-give-up spirit kept them in the rally, despite losing almost four hours, and they finished 21st.

The rally concluded on Saturday with Stage 13, featuring a relatively short 105 km timed section on gravel tracks through mountainous terrain around Yanbu. Lategan and Cummings ended their rollercoaster rally on a positive note with third place, just 13 seconds away from victory. Price and Monleón were 14th, while Quintero and Short finished the final stage in 22nd.

Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist won the stage for Ford Racing, from Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders).

On one of the most demanding events in motorsport, which pushed vehicles and team members to their limits, TGR W2RC demonstrated its resilience by battling through highs and lows.

The technical crews worked tirelessly in desert bivouacs to prepare the vehicles, no matter what punishment they had been exposed to. They played their part even during the stages, such as changing a power steering unit in only 13 minutes during a pit stop zone to keep the #202 DKR GR Hilux in the fight for victory.

The drivers and navigators showed remarkable team spirit to support each other. Whether it was donating precious spare tyres to a team-mate in need, or Price and Monleón compromising their own stage by towing Lategan and Cummings almost 10 km to the finish line, the crews worked together as one TGR W2RC team.

Following another demanding Dakar, TGR W2RC will take valuable lessons from its experiences, which will contribute to building an ever-better DKR GR Hilux to take on the rest of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) season.

After a well-earned rest following the rigours of the longest event on the calendar, TGR W2RC will step up the defence of its manufacturers’ title when the next round of the season takes place in Portugal on 17-22 March.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It was not meant to be our year, it seemed. We had a lot of setbacks, but every time we had a bad day, we went back and motivated ourselves to keep pushing. We had some really good days as well and it was unbelievable that we were still fighting for the win until Stage 11, considering everything that happened. That’s very promising for the future. Bringing a new car to the Dakar is always difficult and we’ve shown a lot of potential. There’s a lot to learn from this race, and a lot of positives to take. We know what to improve on already and we’ll come back stronger.”

Seth Quintero: “It’s been an amazing couple of weeks and there are a lot of positives to take away from this rally. The biggest positive is how the car performed. We didn’t have a lot of testing time, so to be able to fight every single day at the front was impressive. That’s confidence inspiring for myself and the whole TGR W2RC team. Now we need to keep working to get better every day. Obviously, we are not the happiest with ninth, but from the first day of the rally we gave 110 percent every day and it’s nice to come away with a top 10 for the team.”

Toby Price: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of these two weeks, it’s been a lot of fun. Working with Armand has been amazing as well, and he’s done such a good job. It’s a great feeling to reach the finish line. I set myself a goal to finish in the top 10, and I would be extra happy to be in the top eight. The time difference is more than I wanted, but I hit my goal so I can’t complain. Thank you to Armand and to everyone in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC team for all their effort and support. It’s been a fantastic experience to be part of this team.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional final standings*

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 13 result*

*Correct at time of publication

Although the team’s victory chances were effectively ended on a frustrating Thursday, its three DKR GR Hilux were back in the fight for stage honours. Another demanding day ended with a podium finish and two cars in the top 10.

The 720 km stage from Al Henakiyah to Yanbu represented the final long timed section of the event. The 311 km of competition featured a range of demanding terrains, from high-speed tracks and slower rocky sections to spectacular sand dunes and plateaus.

Toby Price and Armand Monleón were in contention for their second podium finish of this year’s rally from early in the stage. The #204 DKR GR Hilux showed consistent performance throughout and came within 85 seconds of victory on the way to third place. Price and Monleón are now eighth overall heading into the final stage.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short gained more ground in the overall standings as their fightback from time lost to punctures earlier in the rally continued. Another strong run for the #203 DKR GR Hilux earned 11th on Stage 12, moving the pair into ninth overall.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings put their Stage 11 disappointment behind them to return to action following repairs to their damaged #202 DKR GR Hilux overnight. Starting towards the back of the field, they suffered two punctures and had to drive in the dust from other cars on their way to ninth. After losing almost four hours with a wheel bearing issue on Thursday, they remain outside the overall top 10, in 21st.

Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabien Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders) won the stage to extend their overall lead, while Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch were second for Ford Racing.

The Red Sea port city of Yanbu hosts the final stage on Saturday. A 105 km timed section will confirm the standings before a finishing podium concludes the opening round of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “We started far down the order because of our issue yesterday, which meant we were driving in everyone’s dust. The stage itself was really nice, and I enjoyed it a lot. But we just caught dust from the other cars all the time. We eventually overtook some of the guys ahead but then got a puncture, so we dropped behind again. It was difficult to overtake, but when we did it again, we got another puncture. So that was a bit frustrating, but we made it to the end and we’ve got one stage to go, so we’ll do our best.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a good day for us. Navigation was tough and we made some mistakes, but we made up more positions in the overall standings. Coming from 31st to ninth isn’t an easy feat in a Dakar Rally with a field of this calibre, so we are proud of that. The whole TGR W2RC team is doing an amazing job, and we’ll keep fighting for one more to try to take more positions. I’m looking forward to the last stage; I just wish the rally was a week longer.”

Toby Price: “I had a lot of fun in the car, and me and Armand worked very well together. It was a very rocky stage, but it had everything, dunes, riverbeds, and wide-open areas. I thought we might be close to a stage win, but with this level of competition you can never be confident. We were very close. We left a bit on the table in the rocks, so we could have made up time there, but we could also have lost time with a puncture. All in all, the car is in good shape. There’s one more stage to go and one more chance for a stage win. We’ll put our foot down and have some fun.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 12 result*

Dakar Rally – Provisional standings after Stage 12*

*Correct at time of publication

One of the fastest stages of this year’s event, Stage 11 took competitors on dirt tracks over dusty plateaus from Bisha to Al Henakiyah via an 882 km route, including a 346 km timed section.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings were second overall going into the stage and aiming to recover time on the leader. However, a wheel bearing issue at the 140 km mark left the #202 DKR GR Hilux stranded. Without spares, they tried to proceed on three wheels, only to stop again 10 km later.

After waiting for the spare parts truck, they were eventually able to resume. Although their chances of an overall podium were now over, Lategan and Cummings demonstrated their determination by completing the remaining 200 km, albeit with a delay of almost four hours. They are now 23rd overall.

In contrast, Seth Quintero and Andrew Short enjoyed a trouble-free stage and were among the frontrunners throughout Stage 11. Fifth place saw the #203 DKR GR Hilux remain 11th in the overall standings with two stages – including 416 km of competition – remaining.

Toby Price and Armand Monleón again performed consistently. They battled through the dust to finish 13th and consolidate their top-10 overall position. The #204 DKR GR Hilux has moved up to eighth heading into the final two days of the event.

Markus Ekström and Emil Bergkvist won Stage 11 for Ford Racing, ahead of Romain Dumas and Alex Winocq (RD Limited). Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz completed the podium in third for Ford Racing. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia Sandriders) retained the overall lead.

Friday is the penultimate day of the 2026 Dakar Rally. The 720 km route on Stage 12 features a variety of challenging terrain and takes crews westward from Al Henakiyah back to Yanbu, where the rally started almost two weeks ago. Yanbu hosts the final stage on Saturday, when a 105 km timed section will confirm the standings.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It is really frustrating. This year it feels like everything that Dakar could throw at us has happened. This rally tried hard to get us down and we lost four hours on this stage, so it has finally succeeded. Every day we would get ourselves back up into a decent position. We have been pushing for so many days and trying so hard. We’ll keep going and push again tomorrow because it’s the only way we know.”

Seth Quintero: “It has been a good day for us. We started off at a decent pace. Unfortunately, we saw our good buddies and team-mates Henk and Brett waiting for parts, but we didn’t have those parts, so we continued. We made up quite a bit of time towards the end and were fifth, so that’s a pretty good result. We have a decent starting position for tomorrow and we’re still fighting for the overall top 10. Hopefully we finish the rally strongly and bring that home.”

Toby Price: “It was hard work out there but a super fun stage. We passed Henk and Brett in the stage, and it was tough to leave them there, but we didn’t have the parts he needed. The rest of the stage went well but we just couldn’t make up any time because of the dust. I’m a little disappointed with that, but I enjoyed driving at full throttle. There are a couple more days to go and it would be nice to get a stage win. The car is in good shape and the rally’s not over yet, so anything can happen. We’ll keep pushing on.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 11 result*

Dakar Rally – Provisional standings after Stage 11*

*Correct at time of publication

The crews spent Tuesday night camping in tents after working on their vehicles, with outside assistance not permitted on the marathon stage. They awoke to another demanding day of competition on Stage 10, which took them to Bisha and included a 420 km timed section over fast, undulating dunes.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings initially kept up their challenge for outright victory and moved into the top three soon after the midpoint of the stage. Overall standings took priority over stage honours, and despite tricky navigation, they were on the same pace as the leader until the final kilometres.

With less than 10 km to go, however, Lategan and Cummings ground to a halt due to a lack of fuel. Toby Price and Armand Monleón showed their team spirit to stop and tow the #202 DKR GR Hilux to the finish line, keeping it in the rally.

Despite those difficulties, Lategan and Cummings still finished seventh on Stage 10 and moved up to second place overall as other rivals lost time. They are now 12 minutes behind leaders Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders), with three stages, featuring 764 km of competitive action, remaining.

Price and Monleón had already lost time as the third car on the stage. They fared better than other early starters in the difficult conditions until conceding further ground by selflessly helping their team-mates. Their 41st place on the stage means the #204 DKR GR Hilux remains in the overall top 10, in ninth.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short compromised their performance early in the stage to shadow Lategan and Cummings, ensuring they could assist in case of any misfortune. They then lost time due to a missed waypoint but recovered to finish 14th. The #203 DKR GR Hilux is now 13th overall, just nine minutes off the top 10.

Mathieu Serradori and Loïc Minaudier won the stage for Century Motorsport ahead of Al-Attiyah and Lurquin. Sébastien Loeb and Edouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders) completed the podium in third.

The battle for overall positions will continue on Thursday’s long Stage 10, which covers 883 km and includes a 346 km timed section. It takes crews north from Bisha to Al Henakiyah as the rally nears the finish line, in Yanbu on Saturday.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “I’m happy to put two really difficult days of the marathon stage behind us. Today was a full dune stage and we made a big push. The car was perfect. It looks battered but it’s a Hilux so it just keeps going. We struggled with some waypoints and dropped a little time, but it wasn’t too bad. Nasser caught up with us, so we were driving together most of the day. Then, close to the finish, we ran out of fuel. Luckily Toby was close behind to tow us in. Seth also followed us for most of the day in case we needed assistance. I am happy to have such good team-mates like that around me.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a decent day. We had a little mishap and lost about 15 minutes searching for a waypoint but aside from that it went well. I had to slow down during the second half of the stage to make sure we were okay on fuel. The car has been amazing and the whole team keeps pushing. We are climbing in the overall standings so we will keep fighting hard on the last days.”

Toby Price: “It wasn’t the greatest stage for us. We knew it was going to be difficult to open the stage, and it’s due to our podium yesterday, but it still wasn’t much fun. Then we played the team game at the end when Henk and Brett had their issue. I towed the boys back, but it didn’t cost too much time. There are still tree days to go and we’re in strong shape. The car is a bit bruised, but we are here in one piece, and I just want to stay in the top 10 all the way to the finish.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 10 result*

Dakar Rally – Provisional standings after Stage 10*

*Correct at time of publication

Having started the day in the overall top three, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings aimed to reduce the deficit to the leader during the marathon stage. It began with the 532 km Stage 9 from Wadi ad Dawasir and included 410 km of competitive action, crossing spectacular canyons.

Those hopes were dented early on. As the second car on the stage, they lost further time to a puncture and then required a power steering change at the pit stop zone, shortly before the 100 km point. Fast work by the team saw the change completed in just 13 minutes, but further setbacks brought another puncture, then a broken windscreen caused by contact with a branch.

Those misfortunes left the #202 DKR GR Hilux more than 25 minutes off the pace, but Lategan and Cummings fought back. Their resilience – driving at high speed and wearing goggles against the sand – limited the damage. Despite finishing 16th, Lategan and Cummings remain only six minutes behind the overall leaders, in fourth, with four stages and over 1,100 km of competition remaining.

From their later starting position, Toby Price and Armand Monleón battled their way into the top 10 by the midpoint and challenged for the top three. They overhauled their rivals over the closing stages to earn third, their first Dakar Rally podium together. That strong performance brings the #204 DKR GR Hilux into the overall top 10, in seventh.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short faced the daunting navigational task of being only the fourth car on the stage but rose to the challenge. They shadowed Lategan and Cummings over the final part of the stage to offer assistance if required. The #203 DKR GR Hilux finished 11th and edged closer to the top 10 overall, in 12th.

The stage was won by Eryk Goczal and Szymon Gospodarczyk, who led home a one-two for Energylandia Rally Team, ahead of Michal Goczal and Diego Ortega. This ensured all three podium positions went to GR Hilux crews.

Crews will spend the night in tents next to their vehicles before resuming battle when the marathon stage concludes on Wednesday. The sandy 467 km Stage 10 includes a 420 km timed section and takes competitors to the south-western town of Bisha, famous for the stunning White Mountain. Lategan and Cummings will benefit from a later starting position, giving them a fresh chance to close in on the leaders.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It was not a great day, and it’s a long story. We were going quite well in the beginning, even though we were opening the stage. Then we got a puncture before we completely lost the power steering. That was 40 km before the pit stop zone, so we stopped there and the team did an amazing job to replace everything so quickly. We carried on and had another puncture. But we resumed in the dust of another competitor and hit a branch, which we just couldn't see. We had to stop to kick the windscreen out and then run the rest of the day with goggles. It was frustrating but we’ll try to have a cleaner day tomorrow.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a lot of fun out there today, and Andrew did a great job. We only had a couple of issues. Early in the stage we hit a stick and that punctured a front tyre. Then we missed a waypoint by only a few metres and lost a lot of time, which was frustrating. After that we stayed in Henk’s dust and just made sure we were there to help him in case anything happened. If he needed anything, we were there.”

Toby Price: “It’s nice to be on the podium for the first time with Armand. We can enjoy it today but it’s not good for tomorrow when we will be one of the first cars on the stage, so that’s not the best. Our only issue today was getting a bent rim when we hit an edge, which cost a bit of time. We got back into a rhythm and kept going. Now we’ll do our best from a difficult starting position tomorrow.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 9 result*

Dakar Rally – Provisional standings after Stage 9*

*Correct at time of publication

The high-speed Stage 8 route around Wadi ad Dawasir included a 483 km competitive section and took place mostly on dirt tracks and sand. It passed through a variety of spectacular landscapes, including dunes, canyons and dry riverbeds, challenging drivers and navigators alike.

Following their frustrating Sunday – when they led until a late damper problem – Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings were on the pace from the start, despite an early puncture. They took the lead around the midway point but could not build a significant gap.

With today’s finishing position determining the starting order for Tuesday’s marathon, strategy came into play. A strong result would likely see the #202 DKR GR Hilux lose time with the daunting navigational task of opening Stage 9. To minimise that risk, Lategan and Cummings stopped on the roadside to concede time, and they eventually finished second behind Saood Variawa and François Cazalet (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa).

Despite that, they still closed the gap to leader Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia Sandriders) to six minutes, with five stages, including more than 1,500 km of competitive action, remaining.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short overcame their relatively early starting position to run in the top six from the beginning and moved into top-three contention just before the midpoint. The #203 DKR GR Hilux narrowly missed a podium on its way to fourth, just eight seconds behind third-placed Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist (Ford Racing). Quintero and Short continued to recover time in the overall standings and are now 15th.

Toby Price and Armand Monleón were the fourth vehicle on to the stage in their #204 DKR GR Hilux, making navigation harder with fewer tracks to follow. They recovered from a puncture to deliver another consistent performance on the way to a solid 13th place, moving to 11th overall, within five minutes of the top 10.

Competition for overall positions will intensify on Tuesday when the second marathon stage begins. Competitors face 418 km of competition on treacherous rocky tracks before a dune section leads them to the bivouac, where they will sleep in tents alongside their vehicles.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “We had a tricky day. At the start we were trying to push but the stage was very fast and there wasn’t much chance to make up time. We struggled with one of the waypoints early in the stage, like a lot of others, then we had a puncture soon after 100 km. From there, we tried to manage our pace. It was difficult to gain time because the stage was high speed with a lot of straight-line driving. We decided to stop before the end of the stage and give away some time, so we are not opening tomorrow’s stage. Unfortunately, we didn’t concede enough time, and we were still second. We really wanted to be further back. We now have a big job to open the stage tomorrow, but we will push to not give away too much time.”

Seth Quintero: “It was another very good day for us, and we are slowly making our way back up the overall standings. Again, we started out front and finished out front. To be able to achieve that is not easy in a field of this calibre, so I am proud of Andrew and the whole TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC team. It’s a good result and it means we’ll start behind Henk and do what we can to help him. Overall, it’s been a very good couple of days since the rest day, and we’re excited to do the marathon.”

Toby Price: “We had a good stage, despite starting fourth. It could have been a little bit better because we lost a bit of time when we hit a rock and got an instant flat. The car looks a bit battered and bruised; sometimes you just can’t avoid it when you’re driving through vegetation, but it’s fine underneath. Overall, it went well today, and we are happy to still be here, running close to the top 10. We’re trying to stay consistent, and we’ll keep that up for the marathon.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 8 result*

Dakar Rally – Provisional standings after Stage 8*

*Correct at time of publication

After a rest day on Saturday, the battle resumed at high speed on Stage 7 over an 877 km route, which took crews south from Riyadh to Wadi ad Dawasir. The 459 km timed section posed a navigational challenge through the dunes, before rocky surfaces, vegetation and dust further contributed to the difficulties facing crews.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings dominated the stage for over 400 km and looked set for a comfortable win to reclaim the overall lead in their #202 DKR GR Hilux. But a damper issue caused by an impact in the final kilometres ended those hopes and they had to drive slowly to the end, finishing in 13th place.

Having started the day second overall, Lategan and Cummings are now fourth. The gap to leaders Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders) increased only slightly to seven minutes, however, so their fight for victory continues, with six stages, including more than 2,000 km of competitive action, still to run.

Toby Price and Armand Monleón challenged the top three from the first kilometres and kept up the pace throughout in their #204 DKR GR Hilux. They missed their first podium of the rally by just six seconds, finishing fourth for the second consecutive stage, although they closed in on the overall top 10 and are now 12th.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short overcame the difficulty of running third on the road to drive in the top six for most of the day. The #203 DKR GR Hilux eventually finished seventh, only 37 seconds away from the podium. However, the pair continued to recover time lost to punctures in the first week and are now 18th overall.

Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist won Stage 7 for Ford Racing ahead of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa’s Joao Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro. Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch (Ford Racing) were third.

The action continues on Monday with Stage 8, which takes place in the region around Wadi ad Dawasir. At 481 km, Stage 8 includes the longest competitive section of the event, providing a chance for the TGR W2RC crews to gain time and improve their positions.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “That wasn’t a good result in the end, but it had been going well. We had strong speed and were pushing nicely, despite having to turn around after going into the wrong canyon. Unfortunately, with 30 km to go we broke the right rear damper going over a small bump and a dip. It didn’t feel like a massive impact, but the damper snapped. That was the stage effectively over for us. We stopped to replace the damper, but it had also damaged a driveshaft, an anti-roll bar and the radiator, so we had to limp to the end. Hopefully we can have some better days and get back in front.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a really good day for us. It was a super-fast stage, which was a bit tricky for navigation, particularly being one of the first cars out there. Considering we started third on stage, I’m really happy to finish in the top 10. The car is performing very well, even with a full load of fuel. It was tough today but tomorrow will be even tougher. We’ll be rested and ready to keep fighting.”

Toby Price: “Stage 7 went well for us. We started fourth and finished fourth again, so not bad. We had to drive through some vegetation at one stage, which caused a bit of panel damage. But the DKR GR Hilux is super strong so it’s all good. We seemed to hit our marks really well today and it is nice to have two consistent stages. That’s been the aim since the beginning. I’m still enjoying every minute in the car and Armand is doing an amazing job, so we’ll be back at it tomorrow.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 7 result*

Dakar Rally – Provisional standings after Stage 7*

*Correct at time of publication at 9pm local time

Crews travelled 915 km from Hail to the capital Riyadh, including 326 km of timed action. After the treacherous rocky terrain of earlier days, Stage 6 took place entirely on sand dunes, which brought its own challenges in terms of navigation and dust.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings held the overall lead at the start and established a competitive pace in the early stages. However, time lost in the difficult dune terrain left them 12th in the #202 DKR GR Hilux, although they are firmly in the hunt for victory, sitting second overall. They trail Stage 6 winners Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders) by just over six minutes with nearly 2,500 km still to run.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short were among the front-runners throughout Stage 6 and held second place at the midway point. Despite losing time due to a missed waypoint, the #203 DKR GR Hilux finished third, only 21 seconds behind second-placed Sebastian Loeb and Edouard Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders). They are now 19th in the overall standings and still recovering from time lost to punctures earlier in the rally.

Toby Price and Armand Monleón showed strong pace to challenge for a podium throughout, but narrowly missed out on the top three, finishing fourth in their #204 DKR GR Hilux. They are 15th overall and still within reach of the top 10.

After more than 2,000 km over seven days so far, crews benefit from a rest day on Saturday. Battle resumes on Sunday, with the 876 km Stage 7. It features 462 km of competitive action and takes the rally to Wadi ad-Dawasir.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “It was a tricky day for us. The first part started okay, and we were running at Nasser’s pace, but we made a couple of mistakes in terms of our line through the dunes. So, it could have been a bit better. But we have a nice road position for when we resume on Sunday and there are some difficult stages coming up, so things can still change. To be close to the lead at this stage is pretty good considering how our rally started. We’ve pulled ourselves back into it and now we’ll give it our best shot in the second week.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a good day for us. We started out front and finished out front. We could push nicely at the beginning. At one stage we had to turn around for a waypoint and that cost us a minute, which was unfortunate. From there, we kept up a good pace, passed a couple of other cars, and had a fun battle. We charged really hard. It’s impressive what the DKR GR Hilux can take because we pushed it very hard today. We drove over 900 km in total today, so I am definitely tired and ready for a rest day.”

Toby Price: “The stage today went well. There was just so much sand and, starting where we did, it was brutal. It’s been a crazy first week, but we are still in the race. Last year we made it to this point and only did one more stage, so the goal is to get past that and keep getting experience. Next week will be as challenging as the first week, I’m sure, but I feel good physically and the car is going well, so we are happy.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 6 result*

Dakar Rally – Provisional standings after Stage 6*

*Correct at time of publication

The crews began the second part of the marathon after spending Wednesday night in tents alongside their vehicles. The 371 km competitive section en route to the city of Ha’il initially ran on fast sandy tracks before rockier sections. The route was especially demanding in terms of navigation, with difficult-to-see tracks increasing the risk of missing a waypoint.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings led overall after their stage victory on Wednesday. As a result, they had the added difficulty of being first on the road on Stage 5, meaning they encountered a more treacherous surface and increased navigational challenge.

Despite that, the #202 DKR GR Hilux crew managed to preserve their overall lead. Although they finished 16th – 12 minutes behind the stage winners – Lategan and Cummings minimised the time loss to their nearest competitors in the overall standings. They now lead by more than three minutes from Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders) with eight stages remaining and the advantage of a later starting position on Friday.

Toby Price and Armand Monleón were also among the first cars on the stage. They made a cautious start before increasing the pace, but suffered a puncture in the second part and lost further time driving in dust from other competitors. They finished 25th, moving the #204 DKR GR Hilux up to 15th overall, with a top-10 finish still in their sights.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short started the stage slightly later and earned a top-10 finish. After losing time earlier in the rally with punctures, they are now 21st overall in the #203 DKR GR Hilux.

Stage 5 was won by Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch, who led a Ford Racing one-two from Nani Roma and Alex Haro. Martin Prokop and Viktor Chytka completed the podium for Orlen Jipocar Team.

Friday’s Stage 6 is the longest of this year’s Dakar Rally at 920 km. The field heads south-east over sand dunes to the Saudi capital Riyadh and includes 331 km of competitive action, before a rest day on Saturday.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “We had a good push on the first day of the marathon stage. We started in the dust and stayed there for a lot of the day, but it was still a really nice stage. We had a couple of moments looking for waypoints but nothing too serious. Finally, we had a day without punctures so we really got going and could push all the way to the end. Camping in the tent was not very comfortable and the ration packs for food weren’t great, but it was fun to spend some time with the guys around the campfire. Today we had the massive job of opening the stage and we were at the front pretty much all the way. That was very difficult, but Brett did a great job. The car is going well and is showing some true Hilux reliability to make it through a tough marathon like that when we were really pushing. We’ve had a good couple of days to bounce back after a tough start to the rally.”

Seth Quintero: “The marathon stage went well for us. We made sure we were there in case anything happened to our team-mates on Stage 4. We gave a wheel to Yazeed (Al-Rajhi) and then kept going along at the same pace as Henk to be sure that, if he needed a wheel, we were there to help. We had a good start position on Stage 5 and made up some time. Then we caught Toby and drove with him all the way to the finish. We are a little behind in the overall standings, but we are still very much in the race. We’ve got to continue like this and go for it tomorrow.”

Toby Price: “We had a decent day on Stage 4, and it felt like we found a rhythm. We didn’t get any flat tyres either, so I was happy with that. After the overnight camp I left feeling really good. We started Stage 5 at what we thought was a reasonable pace, but we realised that it wasn’t so quick. So, I started to pick up the pace and then we made a bit of a navigation error just over halfway through. We were having a good run despite that until I hit a rock and got a puncture. After that we had a tough afternoon in the dust. But the car is in great shape and we’re ready for another day.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 5 result*

Dakar Rally – Provisional standings after Stage 5*

*Correct at 8pm local time, prior to official publication of results

After a gruelling Stage 3, which saw all three crews lose time with punctures, TGR W2RC started Wednesday’s action outside the overall top 10. But a determined drive on demanding terrain turned the tables and brought the all-new DKR GR Hilux back into contention at the front.

Stage 4 was held at high altitude on sand and gravel tracks around AlUla. It marked the start of the first marathon stage of this year’s Dakar Rally, which sees crews complete back-to-back days without any outside technical assistance.

The three DKR GR Hilux started in the middle of the Ultimate pack, meaning they could avoid the added risks of opening the stage, which contributed to their difficulties on Stage 3. The crews took full advantage and recovered significant time on their rivals.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings took the lead of the stage within the opening 100 km and built a substantial advantage in their #202 DKR GR Hilux. A dominant performance earned the stage victory by more than seven minutes from Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin, in second for Dacia Sandriders. Marek Goczal and Maciej Marton were third for Energylandia Rally Team.

The stage victory also elevated Lategan and Cummings into the overall lead, nearly four minutes clear of their nearest challenger, as they battle to improve on last year’s second place on the Dakar Rally.

Toby Price and Armand Monleón briefly ran in the top six and maintained a strong pace to finish seventh on the stage after 452 km of competitive action. The #204 DKR GR Hilux crew remain in 16th overall, within striking distance of the top 10.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short had endured a difficult Stage 3 on Tuesday, suffering multiple punctures and losing more than one hour. They did not give up the fight though, and on Stage 4 they delivered a consistent performance to finish in 11th, helping the #203 DKR GR Hilux into 23rd overall.

With no outside assistance until the end of Stage 5, crews must sleep in tents alongside their vehicles. Thursday’s concluding part of the marathon stage features 371 km of competitive driving, starting on fast, sandy tracks before passing through slower, stony passages as the route heads to the Ha’il region in north-west Saudi Arabia.

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 4 result*

Dakar Rally – Provisional standings after Stage 4*

*Results correct at the time of publication

In addition to this site, the live stream can be watched on TGR's official YouTube channel. A reminder can be set by logging in to your YouTube account and accessing the YouTube Live URL below.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/AodXo4f46Fg

Live stream details

Date/Time:
Friday, January 9, 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. JST / 1:30 am – 1:50 am CET

^* The ending time is subject to change depending on the circumstances.

Language:
Japanese (English interpretation provided)

Attendee:
Akio Toyoda, Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman of the Board of Directors (Representative Director): a.k.a. Morizo
Hiroki Nakajima, Executive Vice President, Member of the Board of Directors (Representative Director), Operating Officer

Event detail:
Presentation

The journey of GAZOO Racing

A challenge born of humiliation

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has promoted the making of ever-better cars and the fostering of talent by taking on the challenge of competing in various motorsports categories both in Japan and abroad.

GAZOO Racing traces its origins back to 2007, when Akio Toyoda (then executive vice president) competed in the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race alongside driving mentor and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Master Driver Hiromu Naruse and several other colleagues.

At the time, because competing in the race was not recognized by TMC as an official company activity, the team was not permitted to use “TOYOTA” in its name, and thus entered under the name “Team GAZOO”. Furthermore, as Toyoda’s intention to drive in the race was unable to gain much understanding, his only choice was to compete under the driver name “Morizo”. Although the team managed to finish the race, the achievement immediately came with a sense of humiliation. That was because, while many other, mainly European, competitors were putting under-development cars through their paces in the race, Toyota did not have such a car, let alone any sports cars in its sales lineup, and was on the verge of losing its ability to pass on its car-making skills and expertise. When overtaken on the track by other manufacturers’ development vehicles, Toyoda felt as if he could hear rivals say: “No way that you guys at Toyota could build a car like this!”, igniting a sense of humiliation that he still vividly recalls to this day.

The Shikinen Sengu of car-making sustained by conviction

Sports car development demands an approach to manufacturing that not only improves a car’s characteristics and fundamental performance by also strives to make a car failure-proof even in harsh environments. All such efforts also contribute to the development of mass-production cars. At the same time, the front lines of motorsports provide numerous opportunities to hone car-making skills and foster talent.

At Ise Shrine in Japan’s Mie Prefecture, traditions and skills are passed down through a ritual known as “Shikinen Sengu”, which entails all of the shrine’s structures being rebuilt every 20 years. Similarly, sports car manufacturing has traditions and skills that cannot be passed down once they are lost. Armed with a sense of crisis that TMC would become a company incapable of building sports cars, Toyoda initiated the development of the Lexus LFA, choosing the Nürburgring course as the car’s main development site.

Launched in 2010, the LFA was TMC’s first authentic sports car developed in-house in approximately 20 years. It was the result of a project that faced enormous difficulties, including a lack of wholehearted support within the company for car-making that was deemed by some to be unprofitable, as evidenced by the fact that development was permitted to proceed under the condition that only 500 units would be sold.

Just before the LFA’s release, the unthinkable happened: Naruse passed away in an accident near the Nürburgring. The calamity occurred not long after LFA development had concluded and Naruse, as master driver, had given his approval by saying, “Let’s go with this.” For Toyoda, suddenly being without his driving mentor and TMC’s master driver came with an immense sense of loss.

However, Toyoda, remaining steadfast in his conviction that cars and talent are honed on the front lines of motorsports, continued to pursue sports car development. Then came the revival of the 86 in 2012 and the GR Supra in 2019. However, the development of these models relied on Subaru and BMW, respectively, meaning that TMC was not able to achieve the complete in-house creation of a sports car.

The launch of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

In April 2015, TMC decided to consolidate its in-house motorsports activities, including those under the banners of “TOYOTA Racing”, “LEXUS Racing”, and “GAZOO Racing”, under the unified “GAZOO” name, upon which it adopted the logo “TOYOTA GAZOO Racing”. It was a development that marked the moment when activities that could not use “TOYOTA” back in 2007 could finally bear the company’s name. However, even though those activities had officially come under the umbrella of a large corporation, the original sense of humiliation that had driven Toyoda and Naruse began to fade.

The never-ending pursuit of making ever-better cars

Toyoda, then as president, decided that TMC would return to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) to further evolve its activities to make ever-better cars. Returning to the WRC, in which competing vehicles are based on production vehicles, marked a major turning point in TMC’s motorsports activities.

Until then, TMC had developed its motorsports vehicles based on already completed production vehicles. However, after returning to the WRC, it began a new approach to car-making that reversed the conventional order by first creating a car capable of winning in the WRC and then turning that car into a production vehicle. This led to the launch in 2020 of the GR Yaris, a Toyota in-house-developed sports car, under the philosophy of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars.

The GR Yaris, which was unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January of that year and recorded its maiden victory in a Super Taikyu Series 24-hour race that September, began to be seen in action in motorsports events around the around, eventually leading to the development and launch of the GR Corolla. It was exactly this achievement that revived TMC’s in-house production of sports cars capable of winning in motorsports.

In 2025, Toyota returned to the Nürburgring 24 Hours race for the first time in six years, fielding a GR Yaris. While behind the wheel, Toyoda, who is TMC’s current master driver, says that he conversed with Naruse. Only TMC’s two master drivers know what they talked about.

For Toyoda, the next challenge was to conduct a true Shikinen Sengu in the form of TMC creating the ultimate in sports cars. As such, the GR GT, GR GT3, and LFA Concept premiered in 2025.

TGR’s journey of the motorsports-bred making of ever-better cars and the fostering of talent is without end. It will soon be 20 years since Team GAZOO came to be in 2007.

“No way that you guys at Toyota could build a car like this!” The humiliation felt by Hiromu Naruse and Akio Toyoda was the starting point of it all.

TGR would like to extend its sincere gratitude to everyone in the world of motorsports, its partners, and its fans for their unwavering commitment.

Together with all stakeholders, TGR—under the name “GAZOO Racing”—intends to continue making ever-better motorsports-bred cars and fostering the talents of drivers, engineers, and mechanics.

TGR looks forward to everyone’s continued support.

TOYOTA RACING

Motorsports activities specializing in powertrains and technology

Furthermore, TMC’s research and development center in Cologne, Germany (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe), under the new name “TOYOTA RACING”, is to specialize in motorsports activities through its advanced development technologies, promoting long-term technological development in engine development and other areas. The technologies that it develops are to continue to be introduced in various motorsports scenarios, including the world’s top on-track races as well as rallies, in the pursuit of further improvement.

TGRR

TGRR (TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing) is to continue its current activities. As an entity that bears in its name the “T” of TOYOTA Racing and the “G” of GAZOO Racing, it intends to serve as a bridge between the two, honing in motorsports as a racing team the products and technologies each develops, while also functioning as a practical training ground (dojo) that fosters talent.

Logo transition is planned for completion in stages by January 2027.

After their dominant performance on Monday’s Stage 2, the three DKR GR Hilux were the first to leave the bivouac for the longest stage so far. They therefore faced a more treacherous surface and additional navigation challenges as the first vehicles to pass through the route.

Stage 3 was run almost entirely above 1,000 metres altitude and took competitors east through the canyons of the AlUla region on their way to plateaus. A fast route, which covered over four hours of driving time, followed through winding canyons before returning westward to AlUla.

Punctures were an ever-present threat on the rocky surface, and all three crews suffered as a result. The time lost dropped the three DKR GR Hilux out of the overall top 10, but 10 stages and over 3,600 km of competitive action remain for the crews to return to the front.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings led the TGR W2RC contingent in their #202 DKR GR Hilux. They stayed within a minute of the leaders on the first 100 km, but two punctures in quick succession forced them to ease off and they finished Stage 3 in 23rd. They are 11th overall, almost 15 mins behind the leaders but still within touching distance of the top 10.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short started the day seven seconds off the overall lead but a series of punctures badly compromised their stage. The third left them unable to continue until Toby Price and Armand Monleón donated their last spare, displaying true team spirit. Despite proceeding with caution, yet another puncture left Quintero and Short limping to the finish line. They lost over an hour on their way to 57th in the Ultimate class, 27th overall.

For the remainder of the stage, Price and Monleón also had to take extreme care to avoid further punctures, with no spare tyre remaining. They finished in 32nd in their #204 DKR GR Hilux and are 16th overall, 25 mins off the lead.

Stage 3 victory went to Ford Racing and Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch, who now lead overall. Martin Prokop and Viktor Chytka were second in another Ford, entered by Orlen Jipocar Team, while Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena completed the podium for TGR South Africa.

Wednesday sees the start of a two-day marathon stage which takes crews further eastward to Hail on back-to-back stages totalling 838 km of competitive driving. To add to the challenge, competitors are permitted no outside assistance until the end of Stage 5 on Thursday, meaning they sleep in tents alongside their vehicles.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “There were a lot of rocks on the stage today and it felt like there was always a risk of a puncture. We were going quite well at the beginning until we got two punctures within a few kilometres. Then it was game over in terms of pushing. With no spares, if we had another puncture, it could be the end of our rally. So, we just tiptoed across the rocks – and there were so many of them today. We did 300 km with no spare tyre, so it was a difficult day.”

Seth Quintero: “We made a good start, despite opening the stage, and were doing well. We got our first puncture early on and the second came soon after. We got a third when we were driving in a straight line going about 20 km/h. Toby gave us a wheel so thanks to him we could keep going. We were driving very slowly, and I pulled over for another car to pass. I didn’t even get back on the line and we got another puncture. It’s really disappointing but now we will try to fight for a top 10.”

Toby Price: “It was a crazy day again. We knew the conditions would be tough and they were. We got one flat at about 120 km then I saw Seth had a puncture – his second – and he was without tyres. I gave him my other spare, so we ran all afternoon without any spare tyres. That was not ideal and we lost a lot of time. The standings don’t look great right now, but it’s only day three. We got through it, which is the most important thing.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 3 result*

Dakar Rally – Provisional standings after Stage 3*

*Results correct at the time of publication

**in Ultimate class

After a tough Stage 1, which was affected by multiple punctures on the rough terrain, the TGR W2RC crews hit back by taking advantage of a later starting position – and therefore a cleaner route – to dominate Stage 2, with all three DKR GR Hilux vehicles finishing in the top four.

The route took competitors inland, starting in Yanbu and initially crossing the rocky tracks of the Hejaz Mountains. After a pit stop zone, the terrain changed to faster, sandy plains as the stage moved towards the ancient oasis city of AlUla to complete 400 km of competitive action.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short were towards the front from the start and moved into the lead around 90 minutes in. A commanding performance over the remainder of the stage saw them win by over a minute. That result elevated the #203 DKR GR Hilux into second, just seven seconds behind the overall leaders, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin for Dacia Sandriders.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings lost time due to two early punctures but battled back strongly. They moved into the top three in the second half of the stage and finished in second place. The #202 DKR GR Hilux is now fourth overall and just 19 secs off the podium.

Toby Price and Armand Monleón narrowly missed out on their first podium together, finishing fourth in the #204 DKR GR Hilux. A slow puncture after the pit stop zone hampered their challenge but they nevertheless ended a strong day by moving into seventh overall, less than three minutes behind the leader.

Yazeed Al Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk completed the podium in third place for Overdrive Racing, while Joao Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro were fifth for TGR South Africa, meaning GR Hilux vehicles earned a clean sweep of the top five positions.

Tuesday’s Stage 3 features a total of 736 km of driving, including 422 km of competitive action on sandy tracks through a rocky landscape, which will make navigation particularly challenging.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “Me, Toby and Seth were driving together for most of the day, so it was a DKR GR Hilux train going through the stage, which was fun. We knew we had to push but unfortunately at around 15 km we had a puncture, so it was stressful like yesterday. We backed off and it was going well until 6 km before the pit stop zone, when we had our second puncture. Luckily after the pit stop zone we could get going and it was a good recovery after a tricky start.”

Seth Quintero: “This was a good day for us. We started off a little slow to make sure we got safely through the rocks, then we picked up more speed towards the end. We also had some amazing battles with my team-mates. When we’re battling together for the stage win, things are going well. It’s great for the TGR W2RC team to have such a strong day. The new car is really impressive, and it’s only going to get better. We’re ready to fight over the next 11 stages.”

Toby Price: “We nailed the first part of the stage, and it was looking good. But not long after the pit stop zone, we got a slow puncture, so we had to change the tyre. That was a bit annoying because I was being careful over the rocks as the terrain was brutal. But everything went well for the rest of the stage and we’re happy. The DKR GR Hilux feels amazing, Armand is doing an amazing job and to have all the TGR W2RC cars at the front on this stage is great. It’s still early days and we’re in the fight.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 2 result*

Dakar Rally – Provisional standings after Stage 2*

*Results correct at the time of publication

After Saturday’s short Prologue set the starting order, the Dakar Rally truly got underway with the 518 km Stage 1 on an inland loop around the Red Sea city of Yanbu. An undulating, fast route began on gravel before reaching a mid-stage pit stop zone. It then passed through rocky plateaus and finished with a wider, high-speed section.

With sharp roadside rocks creating a high risk of punctures, and only two spare wheels permitted, the TGR W2RC crews adopted a cautious approach to ensure all three DKR GR Hilux remained in the fight for victory.

Toby Price and Armand Monleón had been running consistently in the top 10 in their first full Dakar stage together. However, a puncture directly after the pit stop zone dropped the #204 DKR GR Hilux behind a slower competitor and they ended the day in 16th, 5 mins 17 secs behind the leaders.

Following their Prologue puncture, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings opened the stage as the first crew on the road. Two early punctures further complicated matters and imposed a cautious approach for the remainder of the day. Nevertheless, a determined drive after the pit stop zone helped the #202 DKR GR Hilux stay in touch with the leading pack in 17th place, 6 mins 57 secs off the lead.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short had set the pace in the opening kilometres in their #203 DKR GR Hilux, but a puncture dropped them out of the top 10. The American pair were also given a two‑minute penalty for speeding in a controlled zone. They finished the stage in 18th, 7 mins 18 secs behind stage winners Guillaume de Mévius and Mathieu Baumel (X‑Raid Team), with Nasser Al‑Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders) second and Martin Prokop and Viktor Chytka (Orlen Jipocar Team) third.

Monday’s Stage 2 takes competitors east from Yanbu to the ancient oasis city of AlUla through a mountainous 504 km route which includes 400 km of competitive action and features fast tracks, winding rocky sections and hilly terrain.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “We knew that it was going to be a difficult day because we were opening the stage. It became a bit more difficult when we got our first puncture just 5 km in. It was a rocky stage, so we backed off a little and tried to make sure we didn’t get a second one. Unfortunately, after 100 km we did get a second puncture. That caused massive stress because we had 80 km until the pit stop zone, with no spares. If we had another puncture, we could have been out. To be safe, we tiptoed through the stones and completely slowed down. We got to the pit stop zone and swapped tyres. From there it went quite well. Over the last 120 km we could enjoy ourselves. The car is feeling good and today doesn’t really represent its true potential. I’m looking forward to having a better day tomorrow.”

Seth Quintero: “It was a good day for us. Unfortunately, we had a puncture quite early on. After that we decided it was not worth going too fast and potentially getting another puncture so soon in the stage, with the risk of having no spares. So, we took it slowly for a while. Then unfortunately we got a speeding penalty in one of the controlled zones. All in all, we lost seven minutes but that’s not terrible on the Dakar. A lot worse could happen. We’ve got a good starting position for Stage 2 so we’re ready to go.”

Toby Price: “The morning part was going really well, and we were comfortably in the top 10. Even though there were a lot of stones and rocks, we got to the pit stop zone without any issues. As a precaution, we changed the rear tyres and, as we drove away, I tried to build some temperature in the tyres. I didn’t feel anything, but all of a sudden, we had a flat tyre. We changed that, but the guys behind caught up and then we got stuck behind.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Stage 1 Result*

*Results correct at the time of publication

The Dakar Rally is one of motorsport’s toughest competitions and the 2026 edition covers around 8,000 km, with nearly 5,000 km of competitive action across 15 days through spectacular and varied terrain. After intense preparations to fine-tune the all-new DKR GR Hilux for the challenge, the new vehicle – which benefits from a new tubular chassis and strengthened transmission – was finally unleashed in Saudi Arabia.

The opening Prologue stage featured 22 km of fast-paced competitive action north of the Red Sea city of Yanbu, which included challenging canyon sections. Crews climbed through desert sand during the first half of the stage, before a descent over bumpy, rocky terrain to reach the assembly point.

With two weeks of competition to come, TGR W2RC made a measured start to safely navigate the first test. Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short led the charge on the opening day, bringing their #203 DKR GR Hilux home in fifth place, just 14 seconds off the lead.

Two-time bike category winner Toby Price made an assured TGR W2RC debut at the wheel of the #204 DKR GR Hilux alongside Armand Monleón. Despite driving through dust from other competitors, they gained time during the second half of the Prologue to move up to 16th by the end.

Henk Lategan and navigator Brett Cummings were running in the top five around the halfway mark of the stage before a puncture cost them time in their #202 DKR GR Hilux. They finished 47th, one minute 38 seconds behind stage winners Matthias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist, who led a Ford Racing one-two ahead of Mitch Guthrie and Kellon Walch. Guillaume de Mévius and Mathieu Baumel were third for X-Raid Team.

Stage 1 of the 2026 Dakar begins on Sunday and features a total of 518 km of driving, including 305 km of special stage, outside Yanbu. The competitive section begins on rocky terrain and takes crews through narrow passages, before finishing over a faster sandy route across small dunes.

Quotes:

Henk Lategan: “That was not a good start to Dakar 2026 for us. We were seriously unlucky because we hit a rock, which struck exactly on the tyre valve and caused a puncture. It also caused some bodywork damage, and the guys are now busy preparing the car for Stage 1. It was a fast Prologue, flat-out all the way, and on a short stage like that, when you have a puncture, unfortunately you lose a lot of positions. With the starting order being reversed for Stage 1, we will probably be opening the stage, which is not what we would have wanted but there’s a long, long way to go and we’ll keep pushing.”

Seth Quintero: “The Prologue went really well for us. It was a good start to our Dakar, and it’s been nice to get things going with our new DKR GR Hilux. The whole TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC team has been working so hard to get these cars ready and it’s paying off. A strong top-five finish is promising, and I think it’s only going to get better. We are looking forward to the rest of the rally. It’s going to be a long 14 days, but we’ll go out and enjoy it.”

Toby Price: “I am happy to be here again. It was a fast stage, so it’s been nice to shake the cobwebs out. It’s the first time for me working with Armand in the navigator’s seat on the Dakar and it went well. We started to adjust to the DKR GR Hilux over the first few kilometres, then we felt really good. We caught the car in front and hit a bit of dust, which affected our time. All in all, the car feels strong and I feel confident in it. We’re in the race so let’s go for it on Stage 1.”

Dakar Rally – Provisional Prologue Result*

*Results correct at the time of publication

Since its inception in 1979, the Dakar Rally has pushed drivers and vehicles to the limit over unforgiving terrain in an unrivalled contest of skill and endurance. TGR W2RC has exploited the legendary strength of the Toyota Hilux to win the Dakar Rally three times, in 2019, 2022 and 2023.

The 2026 Dakar Rally starts and finishes in Yanbu on the Red Sea, covering around 8,000 km, with nearly 5,000 km of competitive action across fast desert dunes, narrow rocky paths, and rugged mountain passes. The route takes in the ancient oasis city of AlUla, the capital Riyadh, a picturesque loop around Wadi Ad-Dawasir, the dunes of Bisha and the riverbeds of Al Henakiyah before returning to Yanbu.

Competitors face two gruelling marathon stages, on 7-8 January and 13-14 January, during which crews receive no external assistance, meaning they sleep alongside their vehicles in standard-issue tents and eat ration packs for meals. Only one rest day is scheduled, in Riyadh on 10 January.

To take on the immense challenge over the 13 stages of the 2026 Dakar Rally, TGR W2RC relies on three examples of its new, stronger DKR GR Hilux, alongside a formidable line-up of drivers and navigators.

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings won an FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) event for the first time on their way to third in the 2025 drivers’ and navigators’ standings. They will drive the #202 DKR GR Hilux in Saudi, aiming to go one better than their second place in the 2025 edition.

Rising star Seth Quintero, who earned his first W2RC podium finish and a top-10 at the 2025 Dakar, will drive the #203 DKR GR Hilux alongside navigator Andrew Short.

Although Toby Price is a relative rookie on four wheels, he is a Dakar legend following two wins in the bikes category. After making his Dakar Ultimate class debut in 2025 in a privately entered Toyota Hilux, he will drive the #204 DKR GR Hilux alongside Armand Monleón.

An all-new DKR GR Hilux will make its World Championship debut on the Dakar Rally. The newly developed vehicle shares the powerful appearance of the recently-launched ninth generation Hilux and features a new tubular chassis for increased torsional stiffness and reduced weight, plus a new and stronger transmission.

The Dakar Rally is both the opening round and the highlight of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship season. A five-event campaign includes events in Portugal (12-22 March), Argentina (24-29 May), Morocco (28 September-3 October), and Abu Dhabi (22-27 November).

Drivers’ quotes:

Henk Lategan:

“After a lot of preparation and hard work from the whole TGR W2RC team, we are excited to get this Dakar started. We have a brand-new DKR GR Hilux, which has shown very promising performance in testing and with Seth on the Baja Dubai, so I’m looking forward to seeing what it can do on the Dakar. Brett and I are going into this event a lot better prepared after a whole season of W2RC behind us. That experience has been invaluable and now we are just eager to see if all the hard work will pay off.”

Seth Quintero:

“I feel confident, motivated and ready to race. I have a different feeling just because of the work TGR W2RC has put into the car and into me. I’m really excited to get behind the wheel of the new DKR GR Hilux and explore new possibilities. I’ve already seen the speed from testing, and it is confidence-inspiring. We’ve got an amazing team with amazing team-mates. I’m sure we’ll be fighting with each other at the front, but we are good friends, so it’s going to be fun.”

Toby Price:

“I’m excited for Dakar 2026. Working with Armand in the car has been great, it’s a really good match, and I’m looking forward to racing in the Dakar alongside him. It’s the biggest event on our calendar so we want to deliver a good, strong performance. The mechanics and everyone behind the scenes have been working super hard to get the new car ready, and now it’s up to us to do the job. My bags have been packed for a few weeks now, so I’m excited to get underway.”

Technical Specifications: 2026 DKR GR HILUX

Dakar Rally 2026 Route:

In addition to embodying the strong desire of Chairman Toyoda, aka Master Driver Morizo, to further accelerate and pass on the GR brand’s core mission of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars, TGR’s latest brand video takes on the challenge of expressing the “roads make cars” lesson that Master Driver Morizo learned at the Nürburgring. Four race cars—the GR YARIS Rally1 that competed in the WRC^*1, the GR010 HYBRID that competed in the WEC^*2, the DKR GR Hilux that is to compete in the Dakar Rally^*3, and the new FIA GT3-targeted GR GT3^*4—highlight the video’s fast action together with the new GR flagship GR GT^*5. Production centered on capturing and presenting immersive, actual-speed footage of mesmerizing behind-the-wheel performances by professional drivers in motorsports settings around the world, by driving alongside them as close as possible at high speeds.

Driving duties for the video’s multiple shoots were fulfilled by professional drivers, with Takamoto Katsuta putting the GR YARIS Rally1 through its paces, Kamui Kobayashi handling the GR010 HYBRID, and Akira Miura in charge of the DKR GR Hilux. Professional drivers who also serve as development drivers played a role as well, with Tatsuya Kataoka driving the GR GT3 and Hiroaki Ishiura driving the GR GT. The additional video “WILD ROAD—BEHIND THE SCENES”, which spotlights driving heroics not shown in the new brand video, is also available on the TGR YouTube channel.

^{*1, *2} Competed in the 2025 season

^*3 Scheduled to compete in the 2026 season

^{*4, *5} Vehicles featured in the video are prototypes. For more details on the models concerned, please see the press release: “TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Premieres GR GT & GR GT3” at https://toyotagazooracing.com/pressrelease/2025/1205-03/.

TGR’s new brand video and related materials can be viewed from 12:00 a.m. JST on January 1, 2026, as follows:

• New brand video: “WILD ROAD”: https://youtu.be/lYQW0-zWrCU

• “WILD ROAD—BEHIND THE SCENES”: https://youtu.be/CUNhqLpbbkM

• The GR brand story: https://toyotagazooracing.com/our-story/wild-road-bts/

• TGR will continue to strengthen industry collaboration in the top categories in Japan, SUPER GT and the Japanese SUPER FORMULA Championship, to build further excitement for motorsports in Japan. In the SUPER GT GT500 class, TGR will aim for fourth consecutive Drivers’ and Team Championship titles, while in Super Formula, it has set the goal of reclaiming the Drivers’ Championship.
• In the Super Taikyu Series and Nürburgring races, TGR will practice its philosophy of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars and fostering talent. In the Super Taikyu Series, the team will also continue to take on the challenge of expanding new options toward achieving carbon neutrality through purposeful passion and action. At the Nürburgring, the starting point of making ever-better cars, the team will compete in the 24-hour race with the goal of completing the race.
• In the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), driver Akira Miura, supported by TGR, will compete in the T1 class from the second round onward following the Dakar Rally.
• In the KYOJO CUP, TGR will continue to support the series in 2026 to promote diversity and expand the motorsports fan base and participant community with the aim of making motorsports more sustainable. The team will also support female drivers and help create an environment where they can thrive in motorsports.
• In driver development, TGR will continue to develop talent capable of competing in top categories both in Japan and overseas by building an environment where they can demonstrate their potential and maximize their abilities. The TGR Driver Challenge Program (TGR-DC) and TGR-DC Racing School will support a total of 16 drivers. The WRC Challenge Program will welcome its fifth-generation drivers and new global participants, bringing a total of nine drivers and co-driver to the program.
• In participatory motorsports, TGR will continue to expand participation through entry-level events such as the GR86/BRZ Cup, Yaris Cup, and Rally Challenge. The team will also work with circuits and local governments across Japan to ensure safe and well-organized races and rallies.
• In the Japanese Rally Championship, TGR will once again build a team consisting of its employees and conduct human resource development as it has in the past. Through the MORIZO Challenge Cup within the JN3 class, the team will support the development of young drivers who are aiming for the WRC and promote the active participation of female drivers.
• TGR will enter the American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship for the first time with a rally car based on the GR Corolla, taking on the challenge of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars on American roads.

Through these motorsport activities, TGR is committed to developing human resources and fostering talent capable of thriving both in Japan and overseas. At the same time, TGR will continue to engage in the making of ever-better motorsports-bred cars and in initiatives that make motorsport more attractive and sustainable.

1. Super GT

GT500 Class

• The team will compete again in 2026 with the GR Supra GT500.
• Through TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Development (TGR-D), support will be provided to six teams with six vehicles.
• Rikuto Kobayashi will join the lineup as a new driver.

Tires: BS = Bridgestone, YH = Yokohama

GT300 Class

• TGR will continue to support customer motorsports activities for teams competing with GR and LEXUS brand vehicles.

Tires: BS = Bridgestone, MI = Michelin, DL = Dunlop, YH = Yokohama
Only teams with confirmed third drivers are listed.

2. Nürburgring 24 Hours

• TOYOTA GAZOO ROOKIE Racing (TGRR) will compete with the aim of finishing the world’s toughest course with a GR Yaris that has been further refined through the 2025 entry.