Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa Announces 2025 Dakar Rally Line-up
Following a dominant 2024 season in the South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC), TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) is set to take on the world’s toughest motorsport challenge: the Dakar Rally.
Starting in January 2025 in Saudi Arabia, TGRSA will field four crews, each driving the latest iteration of the race-proven GR Hilux IMT Evo, which recently secured the 2024 SARRC title in the hands of Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings.
The formidable TGRSA line-up for the 2025 Dakar Rally includes familiar faces, with three returning pairings and a slight shift in the fourth crew. Heading the line-up are Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, car #211, who have been in spectacular form this season, clinching the 2024 SARRC title. They will look to carry this winning momentum to the gruelling landscapes of the Dakar Rally.
Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy, car #205, who have demonstrated exceptional skill and tenacity throughout the SARRC season, will also join the team, aiming to make their mark on the Dakar Rally. The pair has consistently delivered strong performances and will be eager to showcase their capabilities on the world stage.
The young duo of Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet, car #218, will return to the Dakar, following an impressive season that highlighted their growth and competitive potential. At only 19 years old, Variawa is set to be one of the youngest contenders in the 2025 Dakar, but his rapid rise and resilience make him a formidable opponent.
Rounding out the TGRSA team, Dakar veteran Giniel de Villiers will reunite with his former co-driver, Dirk von Zitzewitz, in car #206. De Villiers and Von Zitzewitz famously claimed victory together at the 2009 Dakar Rally, and their reunion adds a layer of excitement and experience to the TGRSA squad. While Elvéne Vonk has been De Villiers’ navigator throughout the recent SARRC season, the decision to partner with Von Zitzewitz for Dakar 2025 brings a wealth of shared history and understanding that could prove invaluable in the demanding Dakar environment.
The team’s GR Hilux IMT Evo vehicles have been meticulously prepared to handle the extreme demands of the Dakar Rally. Built for reliability, durability, and performance, the GR Hilux has proven itself across diverse terrains in the 2024 SARRC season, securing multiple wins and a championship title. The latest version of the GR Hilux IMT Evo combines technological advancements and TGRSA’s rally-raid expertise, giving the team a powerful platform to tackle the Dakar’s formidable stages.
As the team prepares for the challenges ahead, TGRSA’s Dakar efforts embody a commitment to pushing the boundaries of endurance racing and showcasing Toyota’s engineering prowess on the global stage.
