Champion Toyota Gazoo Racing returns to Dakar
Reigning FIA World Rally-Raid champion TOYOTA GAZOO Racing launched its title defence at the opening round of the 2026 W2RC – the Dakar Rally, the world’s toughest race and scene of Toyota’s outstanding success in 2025.
A testament to Toyota’s commitment to develop ever-better cars and push them beyond limits in motorsport, the all-new DKR GR Hilux returns lighter, stiffer and stronger than the model that triumphed in the Saudi Arabian sand dunes in 2025.
The Dakar represents the ultimate test for the re-engineered DKR GR Hilux and its three crews. Over 15 gruelling days from 3 to 17 January 2026, they tackled 5,000km of timed stages in extreme desert heat, alongside a further 2,500km of liaison mileage. The two most punishing days saw crews complete two back-to-back marathon stages before camping alongside their vehicles, sustained only by ration packs.
Not only is the Dakar the most legendary rally-raid event, it’s a golden opportunity to get the five-event W2RC calendar off to the best possible start. Expect an epic battle as TGR challenges for its fourth Dakar victory.
