Toyota Gazoo Racing SA is pleased to announce the team that will be competing at Dakar 2017, which starts in the Paraguayan capital of Ascension on January 2nd, 2017. The team will campaign three factory-prepared Toyota Hilux race vehicles, and now includes two former winners of the world’s most grueling automotive event.
Joining the team for 2017 is double former Dakar winner, and top-ranked World Champion driver, Nasser Al-Attiyah. Qatari Al-Attiyah, who last won the event with MINI in 2015, will be partnered by long-standing navigator Matthieu Baumel (France).
“We are very excited about Nasser and Matthieu joining our team,” says Toyota SA Motors’ Glenn Crompton, Vice-President, Marketing. “The pair have proven themselves over the last number of years, winning not only Dakar, but also every round of the FIA’s Cross-Country World Cup they competed in. They also won that championship in 2015, and have notched up five consecutive victories on this year’s championship behind the wheel of one of our Toyota Hilux race vehicles – sealing the 2016 championship in the process.”
Toyota stalwart Giniel de Villiers, who won the event in 2009, will again be partnered by German navigator Dirk von Zitzewitz. The pair have campaigned the locally built and developed Toyota Hilux in the race since 2012, achieving a third place (2012), second place (2013), fourth place (2014), second again in 2015 and third again in 2016.
“Both Giniel and Dirk are fired up to win again. They’ve got an impeccable record on the Dakar, but both are hungry to stand on the top step of the podium again,” says Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Team Principal, Glyn Hall.
Leeroy Poulter and navigator Rob Howie will also continue with Toyota Gazoo Racing SA in Dakar 2017. The pair will race in their fourth Dakar together next year, and have arguably spent more time in the Toyota Hilux than either of their teammates. As defending South African Cross-Country Champions, Poulter/Howie have proven their pace in the local championship, as they also did during Dakar 2016.
“Leeroy proved that he was fast enough to win stages on the last race, and both him and Rob are determined to make their mark in 2017,” says Hall. “They have to keep building on their experience, and if they can win a stage or two on the coming race, they may just find themselves in a position to challenge for the podium.”
Hall is positive that Al-Attiyah’s influence will benefit the entire team: “Not only is Nasser a very popular driver with a truly massive global following, but he is also exceptionally fast. This will inspire both Giniel and Leeroy to raise their games, and especially Leeroy will be keen to gauge his performance against Nasser’s.”
With the new race regulations, that allow for a slightly larger 38 mm restrictor in the Toyota Hilux, as well as the addition of Al-Attiyah/Baumel to the team, Hall has every reason to be upbeat about Dakar 2017.
“Winning the Dakar isn’t easy,” concluded Hall, “there are a lot of people trying really hard. But winning Dakar requires more than just fast drivers, good navigators and a highly reliable car. We know we’ve got all of those elements, but you also need lady luck to smile over you. Who knows, maybe 2017 is our year?”