Dakar Time

The 2019 Dakar Rally is around the corner. It may also be Toyota Gazoo Racing SA’s best chance of finally winning the event. It will be a huge challenge nevertheless, with several racing legends to contend with in fast Mini buggies. And a legendary Frenchman in an ex-factory Peugeot 3008DKR who desperately wants to add the Dakar trophy to his overfilled winner’s trophy case.

THE Toyota Gazoo Racing SA team has been at it since 2012. Over the years, the team has come tantalisingly close to winning the fabled Dakar Rally but could never quite make it stick.

Now, with a bit of support from Lady Luck, 2019 may be the year for South Africa’s premier off-road racing outfit.

With the mighty Peugeot factory team and its dream team of drivers (including champions Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz, Sébastien Loeb and Cyril Despres) calling it quits on the Dakar, Toyota’s factory team will be up against a barrage of factory Mini buggies and 4WDs, as well as that pesky Frenchman Loeb who will campaign a privateer 2017 specification ex-factory Peugeot 3008DKR.

Worryingly for Toyota is that Peterhansel, Sainz and Despres have all signed up to drive the very fast Mini JCW Rally cars, joining the likes of another legend Nani Roma. Besides five Mini buggies there will also be four Mini 4WDs in the game, with highly experienced crews in the cabins.