The Repsol Toyota Rally Team ended its participation in the 2026 Dakar Rally due to damage to the vehicle and injuries to the crew after crashing into a dune wall on the sixth stage.
The driver from Lleida has a cracked sternum and his co-driver, Txema Villalobos, has whiplash. Both are doing well and spent the night at the bivouac in Riyadh.
Esteve: “The most positive thing is that we are fine and not in the hospital, because it could have been much worse.”
Villalobos: “We are very sorry to have to abandon the race because, although the start was not ideal for us, we were beginning to position ourselves where we should be.”
The Repsol Toyota Rally Team has had to experience the bitter side of the Dakar Rally. After the accident on the sixth stage, Isidre Esteve and Txema Villalobos are now resting at the bivouac in Riyadh, focused on their recovery and taking stock of an edition in which they have shown they have the pace to fight in the world's top 20.
The incident occurred at kilometer 228 of Friday's special stage, when the car crashed head-on into the wall of a dune. "We were on an uphill ramp on a fairly long dune. On the first attempt, we just missed the top, and as we were coming down, I looked for an alternative route to try again. I saw a spot that looked perfect for gaining momentum from below, but clearly I didn't see it well. I picked up speed, crossed the crest, and suddenly found myself flying. There was a hole, and we crashed head-on into the wall of the dune. It was a sharp and very strong impact," said the driver, who is supported by Repsol, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Spain, MGS Seguros, and KH-7.
The crash damaged the front of the vehicle and forced the driver and co-driver to be evacuated by helicopter. After medical tests, Esteve was found to have a small crack in his sternum, while Villalobos suffered whiplash.
"The most positive thing is that we are fine and not in the hospital. In my case, I only have a small crack in my sternum. It's annoying because it makes it a little harder for me to move around in my chair, but it could have been much worse. Last night we were both able to sleep in the bivouac and that's what counts. That's how racing is,“ said the driver from Lleida. Villalobos added: ”I have whiplash and the typical back pain from the impact, but luckily nothing is broken. We're fine."
The withdrawal comes just as the team had found its place in the standings. The start of the rally was particularly cruel to the Catalan duo due to several punctures and a regulation that forced them to start in excessively delayed positions. However, in the fifth stage, the team gave a masterclass in driving.
On this day, the day before the accident, Esteve and Villalobos completed a clean day and demonstrated their true speed. Starting from 70th position, they climbed back up to a brilliant 21st place overall, which allowed them to move up to 32nd place in the provisional overall standings (27th in Ultimate). This result also confirmed the excellent performance of the Toyota DKR GR Hilux. On the other hand, Repsol's renewable fuels and lubricants, developed in the Technology Lab, have been key to the V6 twin-turbo engine performing at its best in the harsh conditions of the Saudi desert.
“We are very sorry to have to abandon the race because, although the start was not ideal for us, we were having a great time and were starting to position ourselves where we belonged,” explains Villalobos.
True to his character, Isidre Esteve faces the withdrawal with an optimistic outlook: “Now it's time to work harder and better to come back as soon as possible, fix the car, and sit down with the team to talk about what's next. It's a shame to have to withdraw, but we'll take away the good things and everything we've learned.”
On medical advice, and due to the blow suffered by Villalobos, the team will not be able to fly back immediately. The co-driver will undergo a further medical examination today to confirm the final date of his return to Spain.
The Repsol Toyota Rally Team thus ends its participation in the 2026 Dakar, but makes it clear that, when everything comes together, its place is among the best in the Ultimate category.
Source: Repsol Toyota Rally Team
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