THE 2018 DAKAR RALLY TEAM

THE 2018 DAKAR RALLY TEAM

TGRSATOYOTA GAZOO Racing
SOUTH AFRICA

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) will be entering the Super Production category, fielding an all-new version of their 4WD Hilux. With a new mid-engine layout, larger air restrictor and dialed in suspension set up, the new car will be able to provide excellent levels of balance and handling. TGRSA will represent three teams into the 2018 Rally. In car #301 will be the returning Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah with French navigator Matthieu Baumel. 2017 saw the pair leading the rally early on before retiring due to a wheel being ripped off. Now they are back to rewrite history. In car #304 is committed Toyota South African driver Giniel de Villiers with German navigator Dirk von Zitzewitz who have raced together with Toyota since 2012. In car #309 will be TGRSA newcomers, Dutch driver Bernhard Ten Brinke and legendary French navigator Michel Perin.

TGRSA - DRIVERS

  • #301

    Driver: Nasser Al-Attiyah- 2nd Dakar Rally with TGRSA

    Navigator: Matthieu Baumel- 2nd Dakar Rally with TGRSAs

    3rd Dakar Rally together

  • Left: Matthieu BaumelRight: Nasser Al-Attiyah

  • #304

    Driver: Giniel de Villiers- 7th Dakar Rally with TGRSA

    Navigator: Dirk von Zitzewitz- 7th Dakar Rally with TGRSA

    10th Dakar Rally Together

  • Left: Giniel de VilliersRight: Dirk von Zitzewitz

  • #309

    Driver: Bernhard Ten Brinke- 1st Dakar Rally with TGRSA

    Navigator: Michel Perin- 1st Dakar Rally with TGRSA

    1st Dakar Rally together

  • Left: Michel PerinRight: Bernhard Ten Brinke

TLCTEAM LAND CRUISER
TOYOTA AUTO BODY

Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body (TLC) will be piloting two Land Cruisers and competing in the Production category. Due to this, there are harsh restrictions on the modifications available. However, this year’s cars feature a reengineered front and rear design and boast a V8 biodiesel 1VD-FTV engine. The car was tested by driving over 16,000km encompassing both the Morocco Desert Challenge and racing in the Silk Way Rally. The Land Cruisers run on biodiesel that is a mixture of vegetable oil and algae, which was first tested in 2007. By 2012 both Land Cruisers were 100% fully powered by biodiesel for the entirety of the rally.
TLC plans to yet again take top podium with their Dakar proven machines and sage and sand tested pilots. In car #328 will be French driver and winner of last year’s Production category Christian Lavieille and navigator Jean-Pierre Garcin. In car #337 will be Japanese driver Akira Miura who will be racing alongside French navigator Laurent Lichtleuchter. This will be the third rally for the pair, who will be looking to improve on their 2017 second place finish.

TLC - DRIVERS

  • #328

    Driver: Christian Lavieille- 1st Dakar Rally with TLC

    Navigator: Jean-Pierre Garcin- 11th Dakar Rally with TLC

    2nd Dakar Rally together

  • Left: Jean-Pierre GarcinRight: Christian Lavieille

  • #337

    Driver: Akira Miura- 10th Dakar Rally with TLC

    Navigator: Laurent Lichtleuchter- 3rd Dakar Rally with TLC

    3rd Dakar Rally together

  • Left: Akira MiuraRight: Laurent Lichtleuchter