That underlying performance was evident across all three crews, each of whom showed front-running pace at different points during the rally. Team Principal Shameer Variawa explained that the team arrived with a clear plan focused on consistency and survival through the opening stages. “Our strategy was to get through the first week cleanly and set ourselves up for the second half of the rally. What we couldn’t anticipate was the sheer number of punctures we encountered. We went through close to 36 flat tyres during the race. Mechanically, the cars were strong and reliable, and from a performance point of view, we were where we needed to be.”

Despite those challenges, the durability of the GR Hilux IMT EVO once again stood out, particularly on the faster and rockier stages where the pace rarely dipped. Variawa noted that the modern Dakar has evolved into a flat-out sprint. “The benchmark has risen across the board. Everyone is pushing harder, every day, and our Hiluxes took an incredible beating and still finished. That speaks volumes about the work done by the engineers and mechanics.”

Saood Variawa and co-driver Francois Cazalet delivered one of the standout moments of the rally with a hard-fought Stage 8 victory, achieved after starting deep in the field and fighting through dust, traffic and mixed terrain. Saood, who went on to finish as the top-placed South African driver at Dakar 2026, said the result was a reward for persistence. “Every stage we gave it everything. Up until the point where punctures or small errors crept in, we were always running inside the top five. Winning a stage like that, by just a few seconds, showed we have the pace to run at the front.”

Cazalet echoed that sentiment, describing the stage win as a defining moment for both crew and team. “From the first kilometres, we knew we were on a mission. We were focused on small details, on finding the best lines, and motivating each other until the end. That win meant a lot, not just for us in the car, but for the entire team.”

For Guy Botterill and navigator Oriol Mena, Dakar 2026 was a rally of resilience. If not for a series of early setbacks — including a damaged hydraulic jack and a punishing stage completed without power steering — their overall result could have told a very different story. “There were days where we had genuinely unforeseen issues that cost us a lot of time,” Botterill explained. “But even then, we managed to claw back time on the leaders. When you strip out a few of those major incidents, we were right there in the fight.”

Mena, who joined the team mid-way through the 2025 SARRC season, highlighted the steep learning curve and the importance of building rhythm under Dakar pressure. “The numbers don’t reflect the effort. From the people in the kitchen to the engineers and mechanics, everyone gave everything. We’re building something strong, and that takes time.”

João Ferreira and co-driver Filipe Palmeiro also showed flashes of podium-contending pace, particularly on the early dune stages, but their rally was ultimately shaped by tyre damage and time lost nursing the car home. Ferreira summed it up candidly on arrival back in South Africa. “We showed that we had the pace to fight for a podium, but Dakar doesn’t always go to plan. Even so, being part of this team is special. You arrive with a damaged car at night, and by morning it’s perfect again. That gives you confidence to keep pushing.”

Throughout the two weeks, the human effort behind the scenes matched what unfolded in the cockpit. Mechanics, engineers and support staff worked deep into the night, often on just a few hours’ sleep, to ensure all three cars reached the start line each morning. That collective commitment is central to Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa’s broader motorsport philosophy, as Crompton explained. “For us, it’s about development — not just of cars, but of people. Drivers, navigators, mechanics, engineers — everyone grows through this process. That’s why we do Dakar. The results matter, but how you achieve them matters more.”

As the team now turns its focus to the rest of the 2026 season and the long-term road to Dakar 2027, the sense on home soil was one of pride rather than disappointment. “There’s a huge amount of sacrifice involved,” Crompton concluded. “When you see what this team puts in — the professionalism, the passion, the resilience — you realise that every single person can take pride in what was achieved. That, more than any trophy, is what this journey is really about.”

Source: Toyota South Africa DAKAR

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