Toyota Gazoo Racing is gearing up for this year's Dakar Rally. In fact, they recently showcased their machines and racing team which will field the modified Hilux pickup trucks.

Starting with the rally-raid machines, Toyota Gazoo Racing will use the latest iteration of the rally-winning Hilux. Building on the success of the 2024 model, the 2025 Hilux Evo built for Dakar features refinements to key systems. It also gets upgraded components aimed at maximizing reliability, durability, and performance in the unforgiving conditions of the Dakar Rally.

No exact specifications were mentioned by Toyota. However, we won't be surprised if it will get an improved version of the brand's 3.4L twin-turbo V6 that's paired to a Sadev 6-speed sequential gearbox powering all four wheels.

The race-prepped Hilux pickups will arrive in Saudi Arabia where the 2025 race will begin. There, the Hilux will be fully reassembled by the technical crews. They will then conduct a thorough pre-race shakedown to ensure the cars will perform flawlessly before the race starts. In addition, all race crews and technical teams will undergo a mandatory accreditation process in order to receive the necessary credentials.

Finally, the cars will pass through rigorous technical inspections wherein race officials will make sure every vehicle will comply with Dakar's strict regulations. The checks will include driver safety equipment, vehicle systems, and the crews' eligibility to compete.

Toyota Gazoo Racing will field a total of six crews for this year's Dakar Rally. It will be a blend of seasoned and youthful talent. It will consist of Lucas Moraes, partnered with Armand Monleon (#203), and Seth Quintero, partnered with Dennis Zenz (#204), will represent the Toyota Gazoo Racing (Europe) contingent. Meanwhile, the Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa squad includes Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz (#206), Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (#211), Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy (#205), and Saood Variawa with Francois Cazalet (#218). Together, the six crews form one of the most balanced and competitive line-ups in the rally.

As for the race itself, the 6th edition of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia is expected to deliver one of the most challenging routes yet. Competitors will start the race in Bisha, a city in the south-western quadrant of the country. They will then navigate through a meticulously designed course that takes advantage of the region's diverse and demanding terrains. The rally opens with a prologue stage on January 3 which will allow competitors to establish their starting order before launching into the main event on January 4.

In total, the race will include 12 stages with stage distances ranging from a short yet demanding 134-km final day to the grueling 606-km Stage 6. The rally will conclude in Shubaytah on January 17, where a celebratory podium awaits the successful finishers.