A powerful four-crew lineup in latest evolution Toyota GR Hilux IMT Evo bakkies will take on the 2026 version of the Dakar Rally that blasts off on January 3, running through to January 17.

The Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) is:

  • #211 - Juan Cruz Yacopini (ARG) / Daniel Oliveras (ESP)
  • #213 - Saood Variawa (RSA) / Francois Cazalet (FRA)
  • #218 - Guy Botterill (RSA) / Oriol Mena (ESP)
  • #240 - João Ferreira (POR) / Filipe Palmeiro (POR)

Toyota vrews ready to tackle the desert

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The race vehicles have been relentlessly refined throughout 2025 and the confidence booster is the fact Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet’s were victorious in the 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) campaign. Yacopini and Oliveras were also recently crowned as the FIA's World Baja Cup champions after winning the Dubai International Baja - clearly showing they have the pace and experience to make a meaningful contribution to Toyota Gazoo Racing SA's Dakar 2026 campaign.

TGRSA Team Principal Shameer Variawa says: “The team has worked incredibly hard throughout 2025, both in competition and behind the scenes, to ensure we arrive at Dakar with a package capable of performing from Day 1. Our testing programme with the latest GR Hilux IMT Evo has been extensive, and we’ve refined every area we possibly can. Dakar is unlike anything else in motorsport, but I believe we’re going into this year’s race with a strong, united team and four highly capable crews.”

Toyota at last year's Dakar

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Toyota South Africa Motors Vice-President of Marketing, Glenn Crompton, added: “Dakar is more than a race for us - it is the ultimate proving ground for the Hilux brand. The environment is harsh, the distances extreme, and the conditions unpredictable. It gives us an unmatched platform to demonstrate the quality, durability and reliability that define Hilux, while also helping our engineers to keep building ever-better cars. “At the same time, the event resonates deeply with fans around the world. It reflects a spirit of adventure and perseverance that aligns perfectly with Toyota’s values. We are proud of the role TGRSA plays on this global stage, and we look forward to another exciting chapter in 2026.”

Some format changes to event mean competitors will face a fast-changing blend of terrain, yet they will also benefit from a more considered rhythm to the event:

  • Fewer bivouacs, meaning support teams remain fresher and better prepared for the daily servicing assault.
  • Two marathon stages, a first for the Saudi-based Dakar - one in each week of the rally. These require crews to stay overnight in isolated bivouacs with no external mechanical support, making mechanical sympathy and strategic decision-making crucial.
  • Intense stages offset by opportunities to regroup, particularly around the rest day in Riyadh on January 10, without the organisers striving for absolute symmetry in stage design.

The 2026 Dakar begins where the 2023 Sea Camp once stood - Yanbu, on the tranquil shores of the Red Sea. Dakar competitors know the area well: it formed part of the decisive stages in 2021 and hosted the finale of the 2024 edition. For 2026, Yanbu once again serves as the launch pad for a vast clockwise loop around Saudi Arabia and the finish venue two weeks later.

TGRSA’s preparations for Dakar 2026 have been extensive. The 2025 development cycle saw the GR Hilux IMT Evo refined for even greater robustness, improved cockpit comfort and enhanced performance across variable sand conditions—essential attributes for a rally shaped by diversity rather than singular extremes.

Each of the four TGRSA crews brings key values and experience to the team:

Yacopini joins TGR SA for Dakar

  • Yacopini is an experienced Dakar campaigner, with multiple Argentine championships to his name. Partnered with Oliveras, the pair bring a wealth of proven race experience and pace to the mix.
  • Variawa and Cazalet, reigning SARRC champions, bring momentum and confidence.
  • Botterill and Mena offer consistency, speed and significant Dakar experience.
  • Ferreira and Palmeiro contribute European rally-raid pedigree and proven navigational expertise.

Together, the four crews represent one of the strongest TGRSA line-ups yet assembled. With the latest Hilux IMT Evo underneath them and a route designed to challenge every facet of endurance racing, the team is ready to confront whatever the 2026 Dakar may hold.

Colin Windell for Colin-on-Carsa in association with

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