Toyota Gazoo Racing Earns Strong Podium Finish in Portugal
The Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC team performed outstandingly at Rally Raid Portugal by achieving a podium place, demonstrating that its latest all-new DKR GR Hilux is gaining momentum and becoming highly competitive. The achievement was especially significant since it was Toyota’s first podium place with the latest rally-raid vehicle in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship.
The most significant victory for the team was achieved through Seth Quintero, who was driving, and Andrew Short, who was the co-driver. They maintained a calm and steady performance throughout the entire five days of the competition. It is because of their good rhythm, excellent navigation skills, and lack of any critical mistakes that they were able to finish second overall. The last stage of the competition in Portugal was not long but was very technical, featuring some narrow mountain roads, ridges, valleys, and slippery ground.
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This is an important achievement, especially because the DKR GR Hilux is relatively young in terms of its participation in rally races. In particular, Toyota has made several upgrades, which included a new tubular frame as well as an upgrade to the transmission. Such improvements are intended to increase both the strength and the performance of the vehicle in extreme rally raid competitions. It is remarkable that the DKR GR Hilux achieved this despite participating in just two W2RC events.
Akira Miura and Armand Monleón also gave Toyota a decent show in the race, competing in their first-ever event for Toyota. Although they didn’t have much of a chance of finishing on the podium, they did a very disciplined job during the entire race. Miura is one of the most accomplished drivers in the sport and he did not take any risks during the race, especially since there was mud on the tracks. He finished the race in 14th place in the Ultimate class.
However, not all went well for Toyota. The team of Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings had a tough rally following previous issues before retiring from the rally after suffering a high-speed roll in Stage 3. While the team’s exit is regrettable, their unfortunate experience underscores the extreme conditions in rally raid races, wherein even top competitors are susceptible to penalties due to unfavorable environmental factors and unforeseen incidents.
In conclusion, Rally Raid Portugal proved to be an excellent opportunity for Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC. The podium finish not only boosts the team’s morale and reaffirms its progress in developing the new DKR GR Hilux, but it also serves as motivation in the upcoming 2026 W2RC race in Argentina.
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| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Rally Raid Portugal 2026 |
| Team | Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC |
| Best Result | 2nd Place Overall |
| Driver/Crew | Seth Quintero / Andrew Short |
| Vehicle | DKR GR Hilux |
| Other Toyota Finish | Akira Miura / Armand Monleón – 14th Overall |
| Setback | Henk Lategan / Brett Cummings retired after Stage 3 crash |
| Key Highlight | First W2RC podium for the all-new DKR GR Hilux |
| Next Round | Argentina – Desafío Ruta 40 (May 2026) |
