For TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC, the 2026 Dakar Rally ended not with trophies, but with something just as valuable: all three cars across the finish line after one of the toughest editions in recent memory.

Over nearly 8,000 kilometres of Saudi desert, the all-new DKR GR Hilux showed both promise and fragility in equal measure. Two cars finished inside the top ten, while a third remained in the fight for victory until late mechanical failure finally closed the door.

It was not the result the team came for. But it was a campaign that revealed a great deal about where Toyota now stands in the modern rally-raid landscape.

A new car under real pressure

Three DKR GR Hilux lined up for the start in Yanbu on 3 January, carrying Toyota’s hopes of repeating last year’s podium success. This time, however, the rally unfolded very differently.

The new Hilux – featuring a tubular chassis and strengthened transmission – claimed two stage wins and ran consistently at the front across wildly varied terrain, from sharp rock fields to vast dune systems. For much of the event, it looked capable of winning outright.

What ultimately defined Toyota’s Dakar, however, was not speed, but resilience.

Price and Monleón lead the way

Toby Price and Armand Monleón contested their first Dakar together and quickly emerged as the team’s most consistent pairing. In the #204 Hilux, they avoided major technical drama and delivered a disciplined rally.

Their eighth-place finish made them the top TGR W2RC crew overall, just 52 minutes behind winners Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin. For a debut pairing in the Ultimate category, it was a strong and credible result.

Quintero salvages a top ten

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short endured one of the most frustrating campaigns in the field. A disastrous Stage 3, marked by repeated punctures, cost them more than an hour and effectively ended any chance of a top result.

From that point on, however, the #203 Hilux ran near the front almost every day. Consistent pace and clean stages allowed them to recover to ninth overall — a position that reflected performance more than fortune.

Lategan’s rally ends late

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings were, for much of the rally, Toyota’s strongest threat for overall victory. They led early, fought through repeated punctures, on-stage repairs and even fuel shortages.

But on Stage 11, while running second overall, a wheel bearing failure finally ended their title challenge. Nearly four hours were lost, and any realistic podium hopes disappeared.

Still, they refused to retire. Despite the setback, they completed the rally in 21st and even closed their campaign with a strong third place on the final stage — just 13 seconds off victory.

A team effort in every sense

Behind the results sat a less visible story: a team that kept itself alive through cooperation as much as speed.

Toyota’s technical crews worked relentlessly in desert bivouacs, repairing cars overnight and even performing major component changes during stages — including a complete power steering unit swap in just 13 minutes.

On the road, the drivers and navigators operated as a single unit. Spare tyres were shared. Stage positions were sacrificed. At one point, Price and Monleón even towed Lategan and Cummings almost 10 kilometres to the finish.

In Dakar terms, that matters.

Looking beyond the desert

Toyota leaves Dakar 2026 without silverware, but with data, experience and a car that has proven it can run at the front under real pressure.

The next stop is Rally-Raid Portugal in March, where the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship continues and Toyota resumes its defence of the manufacturers’ title.

The lessons from Saudi Arabia will shape everything that follows.

Key Quotes

Henk Lategan:
“It was not meant to be our year, it seemed. We had a lot of setbacks, but every time we had a bad day, we went back and motivated ourselves to keep pushing. We had some really good days as well and it was unbelievable that we were still fighting for the win until Stage 11, considering everything that happened. That’s very promising for the future. Bringing a new car to the Dakar is always difficult and we’ve shown a lot of potential. There’s a lot to learn from this race, and a lot of positives to take. We know what to improve on already and we’ll come back stronger.”

Seth Quintero:
“It’s been an amazing couple of weeks and there are a lot of positives to take away from this rally. The biggest positive is how the car performed. We didn’t have a lot of testing time, so to be able to fight every single day at the front was impressive. That’s confidence inspiring for myself and the whole TGR W2RC team. Now we need to keep working to get better every day. Obviously, we are not the happiest with ninth, but from the first day of the rally we gave 110 percent every day and it’s nice to come away with a top 10 for the team.”

Toby Price:
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of these two weeks, it’s been a lot of fun. Working with Armand has been amazing as well, and he’s done such a good job. It’s a great feeling to reach the finish line. I set myself a goal to finish in the top 10, and I would be extra happy to be in the top eight. The time difference is more than I wanted, but I hit my goal so I can’t complain. Thank you to Armand and to everyone in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC team for all their effort and support. It’s been a fantastic experience to be part of this team.”