By Bahle Gama
Toyota had an extraordinary start to the year as its locally designed and built Hilux racing bakkies dominated the Dakar Rally 2025, securing an impressive first and second place in the world-renowned off-road endurance event.
The achievement highlights not only Toyota’s engineering excellence but also the capability of South African automotive innovation, as the Hilux vehicles were conceptualized, designed, and constructed locally.
The Dakar Rally, known for its grueling terrain and extreme conditions, is a true test of durability, performance, and technical precision.
Toyota’s Hilux racing bakkies, equipped with cutting-edge technology and optimized for the harsh desert environment, showcased remarkable reliability and power throughout the race. Piloted by a skilled team of drivers and navigators, these vehicles overcame treacherous dunes, rocky paths, and unpredictable weather to emerge as leaders in the competition.
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The company disclosed that Yazeed Al Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk – team Overdrive Racing – took top honours, pipping South Africa’s Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings to the post by three minutes and 57 seconds. Lategan and Cummings – part of Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) – led the chase across the Saudi Arabian landscape for nine stages, only to see victory slip away during the last two stages. Saudi Arabia’s Al Rajhi now also leads the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship standings, as the Dakar Rally is Round 1 of this championship, from his nearest rival, Lategan.
Speaking to Motorsport Media, Lategan said “It was a bittersweet race for us, to come all of this way, do two weeks of racing over thousands of kilometres, late nights, early mornings, and then to miss out by four minutes.” “But to get onto the podium is fantastic. It’s our first podium and it’s a great achievement. It’s amazing what the team has done and what we could manage with this race.
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He said they will keep trying and pushing and will improve the car, themselves, gain more experience and come back stronger next year. TGR’s Saood Variawa, another South African, reportedly became the youngest stage winner in the Ultimate Class when he won Stage 3 of the event. However, a collision in Stage 2, as well as a technical issue later in the event, cost him and French teammate Francois Cazalet dearly, and they finished nine hours and 29 minutes behind the leaders.
Worth noting is that two TGR crews were unable to complete the 2025 Dakar Rally. The first to retire was the veteran duo of Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz, who had to stop racing after Stage 6, when Von Zitzewitz developed extreme neck pain mid-stage.
The second retirement was that of Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy, who had driven a steady race until Stage 9, when they suffered a crash that put an end to their rally. Toyota South Africa Motors marketing VP Glenn Crompton said it was an incredible experience with a brilliant team and car.
“The Toyota, which was built in South Africa, that was made by South African people, that was supported by South African brands, has delivered another successful Dakar. So, the most important thing about this whole event is – it’s not a bakkie, it’s a Hilux. And what a Hilux.” Motorsport Media reported that 55 per cent of the car entries in Dakar 2025 were designed, built and developed in South Africa.
