The Lleida driver and co-driver Txema Villalobos finish the Moroccan event 19th in Ultimate and 22nd overall
The Repsol Toyota Rally Team completed the final stage in 23rd place in its category and 29th overall, in an event that allowed the team to gain valuable experience behind the wheel of the Toyota DKR GR Hilux.
“I’m very happy with the result, with the commitment of the entire team and with the feeling I’m taking away from here. I’m completely sure that we have the car ready for the January event.”
The Repsol Toyota Rally Team passed its demanding test at the Rallye du Maroc 2026 with flying colours. Isidre Esteve and co-driver Txema Villalobos completed the fourth and penultimate round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) in 19th place in the Ultimate category and 22nd overall, after making steady progress throughout the five days of competition.
The team accumulated more than 2,500 kilometres – 1,500 of them against the clock – aboard the Toyota DKR GR Hilux, a car Esteve had not raced since the previous Dakar.
The fifth and final stage, held around Zagora, covered 355 km, including 257 km against the clock. Esteve and Villalobos completed the special in 23rd place in Ultimate and 29th overall.
The team also used the day to continue fine-tuning the Toyota DKR GR Hilux, powered by renewable fuel developed by Repsol at its Technology Lab and using the multi-energy company’s latest-generation lubricants. On this occasion, the team tested a new electronics setup that gave Esteve positive feedback.
Esteve explained: “It was a very nice stage and I’m especially happy because today we tested a new electronics setup that worked well for me. We were able to keep working right until the final kilometre and the overall balance of the rally is very positive.”
The road to this result was not without challenges. The Moroccan event did not begin as expected for the Repsol Toyota Rally Team. During the opening two stages, Esteve and Villalobos had to manage an issue related to engine power delivery. However, the efforts of the mechanics, together with support from Toyota and Overdrive, proved crucial in solving the problem.
From that point on, the Toyota DKR GR Hilux was able to deliver its full performance and the Catalan crew experimented with different suspension and electronics settings, while continuing to work on a power delivery that would allow Esteve to make the most of the engine’s performance with maximum precision through his adapted driving controls.
This process enabled the Lleida driver to gradually build confidence and show that, without setbacks, he is capable of running inside the top 20.
“We came to Morocco with a major objective, which was to get the car ready for Dakar 2027. We had an engine issue during the first two days, but after that we had the opportunity to test many different car settings. This engine has a lot of power and, with the controls I use, we are also working to find a power delivery that allows me to control the car better. Our mechanics did an extraordinary job and the Toyota engineers also helped us enormously”, said the Oliana driver, who is supported by Repsol, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing España, MGS Seguros, KH-7 and AD Parts.
The Rallye du Maroc therefore allowed Esteve and Villalobos to accumulate particularly valuable mileage with a vehicle they had barely been able to race since its debut at the previous Dakar.
The Lleida driver moved steadily up the overall classification as his confidence with the Hilux increased and was able to compete inside the top 20, alongside many of the drivers he will face again in January.
“I’m very happy with the result, with the commitment of the whole team and with the feeling I’m taking away from here. Txema did an outstanding job throughout the rally and, after everything we have worked on here, I’m completely sure that we have the car ready for the next Dakar”, Esteve added.
With this event, the Repsol Toyota Rally Team completed a highly demanding test ahead of its main objective. After several days of intensive work in Morocco, the team returns home with 19th place in Ultimate and a significant amount of mileage, data and conclusions that will allow it to continue refining the Toyota DKR GR Hilux and prepare with confidence for the Dakar Rally 2027.
Source: Repsol Toyota Rally Team
