TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) moved into contention for victory in Argentina during an intense Stage 2 of the Desafío Ruta 40, round three of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
After two DKR GR Hilux finished in the top six on the opening stage, the crews stepped up a gear on Tuesday as TGR W2RC strengthened its overall position. Stage 2 consisted of a relatively short 128 km timed section, featuring steep climbs and descents on mostly sandy tracks, with dense vegetation and potholes adding to the challenge. The day finished with a mammoth 506 km road trip south to the city of San Rafael.
After finishing fourth on the opening stage, Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short suffered an early puncture to dent their podium challenge on Stage 2. But the pair fought back strongly in their #203 DKR GR Hilux to move up in the overall standings. They finished sixth on the day and are now second overall, just nine seconds behind new leaders Joao Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa).
Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings – sixth at the start of the day – took a cautious approach to the opening section of Stage 2. However, conditions later in the stage were more suited to the set-up of their #202 DKR GR Hilux, allowing them to pick up the pace and move up to eighth. They are now fourth in the overall standings, just over a minute away from the podium places.
Akira Miura and Armand Monleón also made progress in the #204 DKR GR Hilux to complete a positive day for TGR W2RC. They finished a creditable 15th on Stage 2, helping them up to 16th overall, around seven minutes from the top 10.
After two of the rally’s five stages, crews now face the longest timed section of the event on Wednesday, which represents a defining day in the battle for overall positions. At 409 km, it takes competitors into the Andes mountains and up to a peak altitude of 2,715 m on a loop south-west of San Rafael.
Henk Lategan: “It was difficult in the beginning because I was struggling with the car in the tight and twisty parts. We had made a change on the set-up, but it was the wrong direction, so we will fix that for tomorrow. We weren’t taking any risks and kept it clean, with no punctures. Towards the end the car was better suited to the terrain. It was an okay day, and we learned something on the set-up which will be important for tomorrow, which is a long one. We seem to be in a good position.”
Seth Quintero: “It was a good day again for us. Unfortunately, we got a puncture after just six kilometres so we knew we had to make up time after that. I drove well and the DKR GR Hilux was absolutely amazing – TGR W2RC keep giving me the tools to succeed. We are second overall now, just nine seconds down, and in a great start position for tomorrow. We know it’s not going to get easier from here but I’m looking forward to the rest of the rally.”
Akira Miura: “It was a technical stage today. During the first part I couldn’t push as hard as I wanted because it was very twisty and narrow between the trees. But the second part was better and I could push harder. It was good fun, especially the jumps. Now I’m looking forward to the long stage tomorrow.”
Source: Toyota
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