Toyota’s Dakar dominance and new motorsport hub signal a bold new era

Motorsport is more than just the driver’s seat

One sport I always keep an eye on is motorsport; of course Formula One is top of the list, but I am almost equally fascinated by the goings-on on the rally circuit.

I try to imagine what it takes to firstly drive hard and fast on some treacherous and dangerous tracks, and secondly be the navigator reading a map and calling directions, like a human GPS, to keep your team running like a well-oiled machine.

And speaking of a well-oiled machine, let’s not get too caught up in the glamour of driving and navigating. To have a successful rally team there’s an even bigger, often invisible and less glamorous part of any successful or competitive team … I am referring to the wrench wranglers and technicians that keep the suspensions solid, the gearboxes shifting, and the engines purring.

A dominant showing at Dakar 2025

At the beginning of this year, the Dakar 2025 was a huge success for South African Toyota Hilux teams with, count it, eight stage wins and four cars in the top 10. That takes some doing, especially when you consider the calibre and pedigree of the teams in this prestigious race.

That being said, at the 2025 Dakar Rally, the Toyota Hilux demonstrated exceptional performance, securing a dominant 1-2 finish in the Cars category. Saudi driver Yazeed Al Rajhi, alongside co-driver Timo Gottschalk, clinched victory in their Overdrive Racing-prepared Toyota Hilux, marking a significant achievement for a privateer team. 

They completed the grueling race in 52 hours, 52 minutes, and 15 seconds, narrowly edging out the factory Toyota Gazoo Racing duo, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, who finished just 3 minutes and 57 seconds behind.

Toyota's success in the 2025 Dakar Rally underscores the Hilux's durability and performance in one of the world's most demanding motorsport events.

Toyota is just getting started

And do you want to hear the scary thing about all that? By all appearances, Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) is going to get much, much better.

TGR South Africa, together with SVR, recently unveiled their all-new motorsport operations base: the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Motorsport Hub, located in Kyalami, Gauteng.

Inside the new Motorsport Hub

This 12,500 m² facility is a purpose-built, high-performance hub for rally-raid racing, designed to support every aspect of engineering, manufacturing, and development. It now houses the team’s race vehicles and technical departments under one expansive, multi-level roof – with space for up to 20 race cars, compared to just six before.

From a dedicated engine room and damper lab to a suite of high-tech CNC machines and a cutting-edge parts store, every corner of the building is geared toward efficiency and excellence. Key functions previously outsourced are now in-house, boosting turnaround time and ensuring total quality control over the GR Hilux EVO platform.

A dream realised under pressure

Shameer Variawa, Team Principal of TGRSA, explained: “Toyota and SVR had the vision to open a world-class hub for motorsport fabrication, which would showcase our collective ability and excellence. Using the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing slogan of ‘Pushing the Limits for Better’ as inspiration, we sat down and sketched what we wanted the new SVR hub to become. I’m incredibly proud of the product that stands before us today – from conceptual dream to a place my team can now call ‘home’.”

Construction, which began in October 2024, was completed in record time – just nine months – despite significant redesigns midway through the project, all in line with Toyota’s Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement.

All of this happened in parallel with the team’s preparation for Dakar 2025, where they fielded four all-new GR Hilux EVOs and earned yet another strong result, proving they could handle racing and building on the world stage.

Partners in performance

Glenn Crompton, Vice President of Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors, added: “The opening of the new SVR Motorsport Hub represents the third chapter for Toyota’s motorsport exploits and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa. Shameer, with support from the entire SVR team, has transitioned from privateer driver to team principal to world-class Rally-Raid facility operator. From a TGRSA perspective, we couldn’t have asked for a better partner.”

Welcome to the “Man-cave”

Affectionately dubbed the team’s “Man-cave,” the hub isn’t just a technical marvel — it’s also a space that reflects pride, camaraderie, and an unshakable passion for motorsport.

A special word of thanks from Variawa and his team goes to Toyota South Africa Motors — especially Andrew Kirby, Leon Theron, and Glenn Crompton — for their trust and support. With the new facility up and running, TGRSA is now fully equipped to chase even greater glory.

Keep an eye out for this team when the next rally roars your way.