Behold: with these desert racers Toyota will start the 2023 Dakar Rally
Dakar 2023
Between December 31, 2022 and January 15, 2023, cars, trucks, motorcycles and quads will once again race through the desert of Saudi Arabia in the Dakar Rally. It is the fourth time the event has been held in the Arabian Peninsula. For the second consecutive year, the event is also the first round of the World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC). After the Dakar Rally, the circus will travel on to Abu Dhabi (February), the Sonora Rally in Mexico (April) and the Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina (August). The season finale is the Rally of Morocco in October.
Toyota Gazoo Racing
Toyota GAZOO Racing has entered three teams for the 2023 edition of the Dakar Rally. The first team with start number 200 is formed by Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-pilot Mathieu Baumel, last year’s winners. They, like the crews Giniel de Villiers/Dennis Murphy (start number 205) and Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings (start number 217), will start with a Toyota GR DKR Hilux T1+.
Desert Racer
Toyota GAZOO Racing has further improved the 362-hp GR DKR Hilux T1+ with which the three crews will compete. The champion cars use modified differentials, reinforced suspension elements, a different shock absorber set-up and optimized shifting characteristics for the six-speed sequential transmission. Thanks to new software, the Dakar racers are suitable for the new fuel type, which is required to meet the FIA’s Balance of Performance regulations. In addition to the three factory teams, seven private teams will also compete with a GR DKR Hilux T1+.
