Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) is poised to make a significant impact at the upcoming 2024 Dakar Rally, with its five-car factory team ready for action. Stationed near the starting point in Alula, northern Saudi Arabia, the team is finalizing preparations for the challenging race that begins on January 5th with a 28km-long Prologue.
The TGR Dakar Team has successfully assembled all five of its GR Hilux EVOs on site. These vehicles are currently undergoing shakedown tests to ensure optimal performance before undergoing the mandatory technical checks.
Piloting the team’s efforts are Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon, along with Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz, who will be racing under the Red Bull banner. The GR livery will be adorned by Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy, as well as their teammates Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet, and Guy Botterill and Brett Cummings.
The team is set to tackle the 12 stages of the Dakar 2024, starting with the prologue near Alula and concluding in the coastal city of Yanbu. A rest day is scheduled for January 13th in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
TGR W2RC Team Principal, Alain Dujardyn, expressed enthusiasm for the new era of TGR’s Dakar and W2RC team. “With the introduction of the GR DKR Hilux EVO T1U and four new crews, we’re poised for an exciting race. Our teams are ready to demonstrate their skills in the upcoming W2RC season,” Dujardyn stated.
Adding a personal touch to the team’s efforts, SVR Team Principal Shameer Variawa shared his dual role as both a principal and a father. “This year, I return not only as a Team Principal but also to support my son, Saood, in his first Dakar Rally. We’re eager to see our new GR Hilux EVO in action,” he remarked.
Supporting TGR’s Dakar and W2RC efforts is Red Bull, renowned for backing extreme sports and athletes. This partnership has been fruitful, contributing to TGR’s Dakar wins in 2022 and 2023. SpeedMax, a high-performance tire brand from CantuStore, and various other sponsors including Innovation Group Services, Toyota Financial Services, and BF Goodrich, among others, also back the team.
The 2024 Dakar Rally promises to be an exciting event, showcasing the endurance and skill of both drivers and their vehicles, with TGR at the forefront of this adrenaline-fueled race.
