The 2025 Dakar Rally delivered a thrilling result for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR), as Yazeed Al Rajhi secured his first victory in the iconic event, followed closely by teammate Henk Lategan, who finished second.
The race, which saw Toyota dominate the stages, concluded with a 1-2 finish for the Japanese manufacturer, with Al Rajhi’s victory marking a personal milestone for the Saudi driver. Driving alongside Timo Gottschalk, Al Rajhi completed the grueling race just 3 minutes 57 seconds ahead of the South African duo of Lategan and Brett Cummings, who led for a total of 9 stages before losing the top spot in the final stretch.
For Al Rajhi, the win on home soil was a dream come true, propelling him to the lead in the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) standings. He now holds 70 points in the championship, ahead of Lategan with 55 points. Toyota also leads the manufacturer standings, with a healthy 34-point advantage over the second-place team.
Meanwhile, Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz claimed a solid 9th place overall, while Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon bounced back from setbacks to win the final two stages, securing a 15th place finish overall. The young South African driver Saood Variawa also made headlines by becoming the youngest stage winner in the Ultimate Class with his Stage 3 victory.
However, not all was smooth sailing for the TGR squad. Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz had to retire after Stage 6 due to medical reasons, marking the end of a 22-year Dakar career for de Villiers. Additionally, Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy were forced to retire after a crash in Stage 9.
Despite these challenges, Toyota’s dominance at Dakar was undeniable, winning 8 of the 12 stages and securing four positions in the overall Top 10, underscoring the incredible durability and reliability of the Toyota Hilux.
