Dakar Rally 2024: This is the V6 twin turbo Toyota Hilux EVO
Wider, meaner, and more environment-friendly
Toyota Gazoo Racing won its second consecutive Dakar rally this year. With new regulations in place for 2024, the manufacturer wants to show that it's ready to claim the hat trick.
They have revealed the all-new Toyota GR DKR Hilux EVO T1U – the updated version of their Dakar-winning rally raid car. As the name suggests, the new pickup truck reflects the changes done to satisfy the new FIA World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC) regulations.
Based from the looks alone, the GR DKR Hilux EVO T1U is wider than ever – 100 mm to be exact. Toyota Gazoo Racing made changes to the suspension, air conditioning, and cooling package for better efficiency. It's also wearing the new matte black livery that Toyota Gazoo Racing recently announced for their motorsport vehicles.
Toyota also said focus on quality, durability and reliability was a key factor in the development of the new car. As such, the car has been in constant development throughout the year and TGR's crews have completed nearly 30,000 km of racing and testing in 2023 season of W2RC and the South African Rally Raid Championship (SARRC).
As with the previous years, the GR DKR Hilux EVO T1U will continue to be powered by a modified version of the V35A, the 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 that's found in the Land Cruiser 300. It's paired to a Sadev 6-speed sequential gearbox powering all four wheels. The GR DKR Hilux EVO T1U has limited slip diffs in the front, center, and rear, while the engine management system is courtesy of Motec.
The GR DKR Hilux EVO T1U will run on a sustainable fuel developed by Repsol for the Dakar rally. The Repsol Renewable Fuel 70R+ is made from renewable waste material such as used cooking oil, and emits 70% less carbon compared to conventional gasoline.
Meanwhile, Toyota Gazoo Racing will not have defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah behind the wheel of the GR DKR Hilux EVO T1U this year. Instead, TGR will field a five-car lineup at Dakar with Lucas Moraes, Giniel de Villiers, Seth Quintero, Saood Variawa and Guy Botterill.
The Dakar Rally's fifth edition in Saudi Arabia will be held from January 5 to 19, 2024. It will start in the thousand-year-old city of Alula, crossing the country in the direction of the Empty Quarter and finishing in Yanbu on the shores of the Red Sea.
