Dakar Rally 2026: Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa Delivers Grit, Speed and a Stage Victory in a Punishing Desert Campaign

The 2026 Dakar Rally concluded on Saturday, 17 January, in Yanbu, bringing an end to more than 7,000 kilometres of racing across Saudi Arabia. For Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA), the world’s toughest rally delivered a demanding but ultimately rewarding campaign — defined by endurance, front-running pace and a standout stage victory on one of the rally’s toughest tests.

Across 13 punishing stages, crews were challenged by relentless rocky terrain, deep dune systems, complex navigation and two gruelling Marathon stages that tested both mechanical durability and human resilience. All three TGRSA GR Hilux crews reached the finish, underlining the robustness of the cars and the determination of the team.

Stage 8: A Defining Moment for Toyota and South Africa

One of the standout moments of Dakar 2026 came on Stage 8, where Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet produced a superb drive to claim a hard-fought victory in the dunes around Wadi Ad Dawasir.

Starting further back in the field, the pair worked their way through dust and traffic, maintaining relentless pace across a long, fast loop combining dunes, rocky canyons and riverbeds. They secured the win by just three seconds, in one of the closest finishes of the rally.

“Today was quite difficult, especially with the dust and traffic,” said Variawa. “But we managed to pick them off one by one and push hard towards the end. Winning by three seconds shows how close it was, but I’m really happy. It’s our second stage win and the car was amazing.”

The result marked Toyota’s key breakthrough of the rally and injected momentum as the event moved toward its decisive Marathon stages.

Surviving the Marathon: Strategy Over Speed

Following the Stage 8 triumph, attention turned to Stage 9 and the start of the second Marathon Stage — traditionally one of Dakar’s biggest turning points. With no service assistance available at the bivouac, crews were forced to balance pace with mechanical sympathy, knowing any damage would need to be repaired overnight.

For TGRSA, the Marathon demanded restraint, discipline and resilience:

• João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro managed pace carefully after earlier punctures, ensuring they remained competitive while protecting the car.
• Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena continued to show strong speed but faced further tyre and navigation challenges.
• Variawa and Cazalet consolidated their strong position after the stage win, navigating the Marathon without major issues.

All three crews emerged from the Marathon intact — a crucial achievement that kept Toyota’s rally ambitions alive heading into the final stages.

Final Classification: Endurance Rewarded in Yanbu

As the rally reached the Red Sea coast, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa closed out Dakar 2026 with all three cars at the finish — a significant achievement in itself.

Top South African Result

Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet finished 10th overall, making Variawa the top-placed South African driver at Dakar 2026. Their campaign featured a Stage 8 victory and multiple top-ten stage finishes, with raw pace that at times suggested a potential top-five result.

Reflecting on the rally, Variawa said:

“It’s my third Dakar and my third finish. We had the pace to be in the top five all the time, we won a stage and that brought confidence back into the team. Some things were out of my control and cost us a lot of time, but I’ve grown a lot and the results are starting to show.”

Cazalet added:

“Dakar is always tricky and different from what you expect, but we pushed until the end and did it clean. A top ten is close to our objective and we’re happy with that.”

Ferreira and Botterill: Pace Shown, Results Tested

João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro endured one of the toughest Dakars of their careers. Repeated punctures and damage sustained during the second Marathon stage cost significant time, despite strong underlying speed — highlighted by a seventh-place finish on the final stage.

“It’s not the result the team wanted or deserved,” said Ferreira, “but Dakar is tough and we learn a lot. We still have a full W2RC season ahead and Dakar 2027 is already around the corner.”

Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena also showed consistent top-ten pace throughout the rally, particularly in dunes and mixed terrain. Their campaign, however, was repeatedly interrupted by punctures, navigation challenges and late-stage impacts, including damage on Stage 12 while running inside the top six.

“It was a roller coaster,” said Botterill. “The pace is there, the car was strong and there’s a lot to build on.”

Team Perspective: Performance Beyond the Numbers

TGRSA Team Principal Shameer Variawa praised the collective effort behind the scenes and the durability of the GR Hilux across one of the toughest Dakar routes in recent years.

“The pace has been good and we didn’t have many mechanical problems, which shows the work the team put in. Punctures at critical moments affected results, but everyone gave it their all. We take what we’ve learned and come back stronger.”

Glenn Crompton, Vice-President of Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors, echoed that sentiment:

“The results don’t necessarily reflect the performance of the team. Just finishing a Dakar is an incredible achievement. Continuous improvement and respect for people are critical for us as a brand — and that’s exactly what this team showed.”

Conclusion: A Dakar Built on Resilience and Progress

Dakar Rally 2026 may not have delivered an overall podium for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa, but it reinforced the team’s reputation for durability, competitiveness and depth. With a stage victory, a top-ten overall finish, and all cars reaching Yanbu, the campaign laid a strong foundation for the future.

As the dust settles on Saudi Arabia, TGRSA leaves Dakar 2026 with confidence, experience and clear momentum — already looking ahead to the next challenge.