Toyota’s New GR DKR Hilux T1+ Is Getting Ready For The 2022 Dakar Rally

Toyota has unveiled the off-roader that it will field at next year’s Dakar Rally kicking off on January 2.

The race car is dubbed the GR DKR Hilux T1+ and is currently being put to the test as part of its development campaign. It has been designed to comply with new racing regulations for the 2022 iteration of the Dakar Rally.

Many components used by other Hilux models that competed at Dakar since 2018 will be featured but a key upgrade is the fitment of a new 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged petrol V6 lifted from the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser. In production form, this engine delivers 409 hp and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque, but Toyota has promised to increase those figures significantly for the racer, without specifying its horsepower and torque targets.

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As part of the upgrades being made in line with new technical regulations are the fitment of larger 37-inch tires, up from the 32-inch tires used at this year’s event. The new car also boasts 350 mm of suspension travel, an increase from the 280 mm limit previously enforced. All told, these upgrades should make the new GR DKR Hilux T1+ even more capable than its predecessor.

Toyota will field four examples of the GR DKR Hilux T1+ in next year’s Dakar Rally with driver and navigator pairings of Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel, Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, and Shameer Variawa and Danie Stassen.

“We are very pleased to announce a team that is very similar to last year,” team principal Glyn Hall said in a statement. “With Nasser and Giniel heading up our attack, and Henk gaining confidence, we are excited to take on the 2022 edition of the Dakar Rally. Our new GR DKR Hilux T1+ is progressing well, and we are confident that the new car will allow us to compete on a new level, come January.”