January 8, 2025 Alula, Saudi Arabia
DPPI
No, this isn’t Andy Green’s Thrust SSC Land Speed Record car streaking across the desert but the Toyota Hilux of Yazeed Al-Rajhi and co-driver Timo Gottschalk en route to victory at the Dakar. This year’s rally saw big names fall early including Sébastien Loeb (Dacia) and Carlos Sainz (Ford). Toyota dominated but despite having five factory entries it was privateer Al-Rajhi and his Overdrive outfit who triumphed – the first time a customer team has won in 25 years. The first Saudi to ever win the event finished in 52hrs 52min 15sec, 3min 57sec ahead of Toyota Gazoo driver Henk Lategan in second.