Toyota Gazoo Racing is pleased to confirm two all-new crews for the 2024 Dakar Rally ahead of a full five-car team confirmation later in November.
Both new crews will be piloting upgraded versions of the GR DKR Hilux T1+, which secured Dakar rally wins in 2022 and 2023.
They will be joined by a trio of South African crews: Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy, Guy Botterill and Brett Cummings and Saood Variawa and French co-driver Francois Cazalet
Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleón
The first new crew will see Lucas Moraes paired with former biker Armand Monleón as co-driver.
Moraes has proven himself as one of the fastest young drivers W2RC and secured third place overall in his first-ever Dakar Rally last year.
Now, as a member of the factory TGR team, Moraes will have another opportunity to pursue his dream of winning the Dakar Rally.
The Brazilian has tasted victory in the past, winning the Rally dos Sertoes twice. He has also won the Brazilian National Championship three times, and the South American Mitsubishi cup twice.
Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz
The second new driver for the crew is American Seth Quintero, who quickly made a name for himself in world rally-raid by winning twelve stages of the 2022 Dakar Rally in a light prototype. Quintero, will be partnered with co-driver, Dennis Zenz. Quintero, who hails from San Marcos in California, started racing light prototypes at the age of 10, winning his first championship before he was legally old enough to drive.
Seth and Dennis were recently crowned FIA W2RC champions in Class T3, cementing their status as exciting up-and-coming world rally-raid stars.
Guy Botterill and the experience co-driver Brett Cummings will be part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Dakar squad Image. Image David Ledbitter
Updated GR DKR Hilux T1+
With new additions to its driver line-up, TGR is looking to its future, which includes the continued development of its Dakar-winning GR DKR Hilux T1+. Details of the car’s updated specifications for 2024 will be shared in due course. However, the latest evolution of the car will conform to the latest rules as set out by the FIA. Additionally, Toyota’s aim of building ever-better cars through motorsport has spurred on further refinements to various components of the car. At the same time, the team is looking to a sustainable future, details of which have not been announced yet.
Preparations Towards Dakar Rally 2024
As part of the team’s preparations for the Dakar Rally, Seth and Dennis with be taking part in the upcoming Dubai International Baja. The event, which takes place between 10-13 November, 2023, will offer the pair competitive mileage behind the wheel of the updated GR DKR Hilux T1+. A similar opportunity will see Lucas and Armand compete at the Baja Qassim in Saudi Arabia, between 23-25 November, 2023.
Dakar Rally 2024 will again serve as Round 1 of the 2024 World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC). The 12-stage marathon event will start on January 5th, 2024, in the northern Saudi city of Alula. From there, the route will wind its way through the spectacular sands of Saudi Arabia, before doubling back for the finish at the coastal city of Yanbu.
QUOTES
Andrea Carlucci, Vice President, Toyota Motor Europe: “Looking back over our W2RC and Dakar journeys, which started with our commitment to enter the inaugural W2RC season, I can’t help but be extremely proud. We started with a two-year commitment with a single entry, and could never have imagined the results we attained. Thanks to our GR DKR Hilux T1+, which proved highly reliable and robust; together with the skill and experience of Nasser and Mathieu, we attained a perfect set of results over the first two seasons of the W2RC: Manufacturer’s, Driver’s and Co-Driver’s titles in both seasons. Now, we are in a position to confirm TGR’s continued commitment to the FIA’s W2RC, starting with the Dakar Rally 2024. Furthermore, we are working towards the goals as set out by the Dakar Future 2026 project, but more than that, we will be stepping up our engagement by adding two new crews to the team.
Source: Read More