After two grueling weeks out in the desert, the Dakar Rally is officially finished. This year’s winner is Toyota and took home a 1-2 finish in a convincing manner. It’s a win for Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk, and second place for Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings.
Their steed of choice? It was none other than the Toyota Hilux. Any proud owners out there?
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What’s even more astonishing is the fact that it’s the privateer Hilux (with support from Toyota) that took the overall win. Al-Rajhi and Gottschalk are the first privateers to win the rally after years of manufacturer teams dominating the sport. Score one for the underdogs.
Gazoo Racing drivers Lategan and Cummings were just 3min 57sec behind in second place, but both Hiluxes led the Dakar for nearly two weeks. As a cherry on top, Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon won the final stage, further showing the strength of the Hilux on the dunes.
Granted, the Toyota Hilux that won the Dakar isn’t one that can be bought straight from the dealership. It rides on a bespoke tube-frame chassis with custom double-wishbone suspension on all corners. That said, the panels are made to resemble a standard Hilux.
Beneath its carbon fiber body is a highly-tuned version of the V35A engine. It’s also known as the same engine found in the gas-powered Land Cruiser 300 Series. However, rules dictate that the power be capped at 354hp and 620Nm. It’s modified for durability and high revs rather than outright horsepower.
Congrats to Toyota Gazoo Racing. Next year’s challenge will be keeping that title. With the other teams hungry for the win, we could see an exciting rally in 2026.
