The countdown has begun. In less than a month the 39th edition of the Dakar Rally will take off from Asunción and head to Buenos Aires. Nearly 9,000 kilometers. Breathtaking scenery. Grueling conditions. The Toyota teams are ready. Where victory is to reach the end of this exceptional adventure.

The legendary Dakar Rally is the toughest race in the world. On January 2nd 491 competitors will set out from Asunción for the journey of a lifetime. They will compete in a range of vehicle categories that include trucks, cars, quads, bikes and UTV (light-weight 4WD), a new stand-alone category. High altitude mountains, treacherous dunes, rocks, holes, dust and mud. Scorching heat and temperatures close to freezing point. The competitors need endurance and navigation finesse. The 12 stages demand driving precision to the max to reach the vibrant Argentinian capital Buenos Aires. When it comes to ‘quality, durability and reliability’ Toyota is an established name in the Dakar Rally and once again, the Toyota drivers can count on their highly dependable Hilux Evo, Hilux Pickup and Land Cruiser 200 series.

With the addition of Paraguay, the Dakar visits its 29th country, the 5th in South America. Soon after leaving Asunción the ascent begins. After the first selective section the drivers will cross the border into Argentina, heading towards Resistencia for the second stage. The rise in temperature and altitude will accompany a drastic change of scenery. On the Bolivian Altiplano excellent climbing technique, vigilance and lucidity is required. Navigating for 6 days at an altitude over 3,500 meters will push the drivers to the extremes.

The large variety of terrain makes the selective sections towards La Paz, the highest altitude capital in the world, very demanding. Fatigue will set in. After the rest day, the rally takes off for the marathon stage crossing sandy tracks and dune sectors towards Uyuni and Salta. Stage 9 to Chilecito involves covering nearly 1,000 kilometers in one day. This is a tough test for the navigators. After a long trail section, the San Juan dunes will be the final to surf to the end of a unique experience. All drivers who complete the Dakar are winners. Toyota strives to be one of them.

Meeting the teams