The new GR DKR Hilux T1+ is powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine of 3.5 litres which is sourced from the iconic new Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport, the new GR DKR Hilux T1+ features more low-down torque than its predecessor, as well as gains in terms of engine weight, though the overall weight of the car has been increased to 2,000 kg as per the regulations. The new engine’s performance is governed by the rules as set out by the FIA and as such it offers 298 kW. The standard Toyota turbos are used, as well as a standard intercooler. The orientation of the intercooler had to be modified for the race car, but the part itself remains stock, as it is inherently extremely efficient.

New Hilux with bigger tires

There were also some changes underneath the car. The car features a suspension system that has seen an increase in travel from 280 mm to 350 mm, which allows the driver to make the most of the new tyres that have been increased from 32 inches to 37 inches. The tyre width has also increased from 245 mm to 320 mm. This improvement provides a better suspension and finer driving experience for the riders.

Aluminium wheels will punctuate the new car’s larger tyres. These wheels have been an integral part of the development of the T1+ and the team has chosen to leave the wheels in their natural aluminium finish, as this offers a benefit in terms of heat radiation. The car now carries only two spare tyres rather than the three that had been in use in the past, due to a change in the regulations for the T1+ category.

Toyota ready for Dakar 2022

For Dakar 2022, the team will field four of the all-new GR DKR T1+ versions of the Hilux, with Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and French co-driver Mathieu Baumel spearheading the attack for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. The 2019 Dakar Rally winners will again have Giniel de Villiers (2009 Dakar winner) as teammate, and the South African will be partnered with co-driver Dennis Murphy for the 2022 edition of the race. South Africans Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings will be returning to the Dakar Rally, with the aim of showing their pace over the full race distance after crashing out during stage 5 of the 2021 edition of the rally. The final car in the line-up will be driven by Shameer Variawa and co-driver Danie Stassen, both from South Africa.

Glyn Hall, Team Principal: “Our all-new Toyota GR DKR Hilux has progressed extremely well over the last few months of development, and we are confident that it is now ready to take on the Dakar Rally. As such, we’ve officially taken it out of the prototype programme, and will now continue to refine the car in time for January’s race. The new engine from the Land Cruiser has proven reliable from the get-go, and working with it in stock form means that we don’t have to stress the engine to extract maximum performance.”

The team will conduct a final test in South Africa before preparing the cars for shipping to Saudi Arabia early in December. The final route for the Dakar 2022 is yet to be announced, but it is expected that the terrain will be similar to that encountered in 2020 and 2021. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will continue making ever-better cars through the challenge of Dakar