Toyota will be entering a four-crew team in the Dakar Rally, with the Gazoo Racing team fielding a GR Hilux DKR T1+ pickup truck in the gruelling competition.

As in 2021, the works team will be led by Nasser Al-Attiyah and navigator Mathieu Baumel. Giniel de Villiers will be partnered with navigator Dennis Murphy; Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings will return for their second Dakar; and Shameer Variawa will be partnered with navigator Danie Stassen.

Building on experience from this year’s event, the team will continue to field a mix of experienced specialists, in the form of Al-Attiyah and de Villiers, while strengthening Lategan’s status as an up-and-coming talent in the sport. Variawa will be aiming to improve on his 21st position in the 2021 rally.

Toyota Dakar Hilux

Following Toyota Gazoo Racing’s philosophy of “making ever-better cars”, the team has continued to refine the Hilux and the latest iteration will spearhead the team’s Dakar Rally campaign. For 2022, the team are developing a new version of the Toyota Dakar Hilux, based on the latest rules.

The new Toyota GR DKR Hilux T1+ will share components with the race-proven Toyota Hilux that was introduced in 2018 and went on to win the Dakar in 2019, but will also feature a host of improvements including bigger running gear – 37-inch tyres, up from 32 inches, and an increase in tread from 245mm to 320mm. The new car also has more suspension travel with the previous limit of 280mm now increased to 350mm.

Under the bonnet, the car is now equipped with a 3.5-litre twin-turbo powered petrol V6 engine, sourced from the GR-S version of the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser 300. In standard form, the engine produces 415hp at 5,200rpm and 650Nm of torque from 2,000rpm. In race trim, those numbers are significantly higher.

The prototype car, in temporary raw carbon fibre finish, is currently undergoing testing in preparation for an official reveal later in 2021.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux for Dakar
The Rally

Dakar 2022 will again be run entirely in the Saudi Arabian desert. The race will start on 2 January in the northern city of Ha’il, before heading south to the Empty Quarter. The rest day will be in the Saudi capital Riyadh on 8 January, before the race heads south-westward to the finish in Jeddah on 14 January.

The race will kick off with a prologue to determine the starting positions for Stage 1. Two looped stages will also feature on the route, though the details have yet to be announced by the organisers. Finally, the traditional Marathon Stage will see the crews race away from the main bivouac to an unsupported encampment for an overnight stop, before racing back to rejoin their technical crews at the main bivouac. This is a challenging part of the race, that often plays a major role in its outcome.

The final route for the Dakar 2022 is yet to be announced, but it is expected that the terrain will be similar to that encountered in 2020 and 2021.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Team quotes

Glyn Hall, Team Principal: “We are very pleased to announce a team that is very similar to last year. With Nasser and Giniel heading up our attack, and Henk gaining confidence, we are excited to take on the 2022 edition of the Dakar Rally. Our new GR DKR Hilux T1+ is progressing well, and we are confident that the new car will allow us to compete on a new level, come January.”

Nasser Al-Attiyah: “I am very happy to be back with the Toyota Gazoo Racing team for Dakar 2022. We won the race together in 2019, and I am excited for our prospects, especially with the new GR DKR Hilux T1+, which is definitely faster and more capable than the previous car.”

Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers and Hilux for Dakar
Mathieu Baumel and Nasser Al-Attiyah

Giniel de Villiers: “The Dakar is one of the toughest races on the planet, but it suits our new Hilux perfectly. The new wheels, suspension travel and especially the move to the turbo-powered petrol engine from the Land Cruiser, is sure to make a big difference to our campaign. The engine is highly responsive and allows us to push the new car to the limit. Saudi has proven to be a worthy host for the race and we expect that this will again be the case in 2022.”

Henk Lategan: “My first taste of Dakar in 2021 was amazing, but unfortunately, our progress was cut short by a crash in Stage 5. Even so, I am confident that we have the pace to race in the front pack. Fielding a new car with a turbo petrol engine should make for an enticing battle.”

Shameer Variawa: “Finishing the race in 2021 was a highlight of my career to date, but I also saw opportunities for more pace in the future. Hopefully Dakar 2022 offers the same opportunities, so that I can capitalise on the experience I gained to date.”

Mathieu Baumel: “The Dakar Rally is an amazing challenge, and I am looking forward to returning to Saudi Arabia with Nasser, to fight for victory again. The new car is very promising and if our first tests are anything to go by, the new petrol engine, bigger suspension travel and increased tyre sizes may just bring the additional power, control and puncture-protection that we lacked in the recent past.”

Dennis Murphy: “For me, racing with Giniel has been highly rewarding in the SACCS. Now, I’ll have a chance to navigate for him in the Dakar>And to make things even better, we’ll be doing so in the new GR DKR Hilux T1+. The car is exciting on many levels, but the increase in tyre diameter, together with bigger suspension travel, will make it not only faster but also safer for the crew.”

Brett Cummings: “Navigating in the T1+ promises to be somewhat easier, especially with the digital roadbook which is mounted on the dash. In the older specification Hilux, heavy braking and hard acceleration often made it a challenge to read the roadbook. Now, with more suspension travel and bigger tyres, this problem should be mitigated.”

Danie Stassen: “Competing in Dakar has been a dream for me. Now, I have the opportunity to join Shameer in the world’s toughest race, and I cannot wait for the race to start. We race together in the South African championship, so we know each other well. But Dakar promises to be a much bigger challenge than anything we’ve taken on together before.”

Phil Huff
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