TGRSA SHOWS PACE AND RESILIENCE THROUGH CHALLENGING STAGE 2 AT DAKAR 2026

• João Ferreira delivers a strong top-five stage result in P5
• Saood Variawa shows front-running pace before a late puncture limits his result
• Guy Botterill battles through major mechanical adversity to reach the finish
• Focus now shifts to a long and demanding loop stage around AlUla

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) endured a demanding and eventful second day at the 2026 Dakar Rally on Monday, as Stage 2 tested crews with a long, fast route from Yanbu to AlUla over a wide mix of terrain.

The stage featured a 400 km special stage within a total distance of just over 500 km, placing the emphasis firmly on speed, navigation and mechanical reliability. While the day delivered mixed fortunes for the three TGRSA crews, it also highlighted both the pace of the GR Hilux IMT Evo and the resilience of the team.

Leading the charge for TGRSA on Stage 2 was João Ferreira, partnered by Filipe Palmeiro (#240), who produced an impressive drive to finish fifth on the stage. Despite encountering a slow puncture early on, the Portuguese pairing managed the issue well and pushed hard through the faster, sandy sections later in the stage.

“It was a long stage and the longest one so far,” said Ferreira. “We started with a lot of stones and had a slow puncture, but after the pit stop it was very fast and sandy with a lot of navigation. We pushed there and finished P5 for the day. It’s a very positive result, but it’s still only the second day of Dakar, so we stay focused on the next stage.”

Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet (#213) followed closely behind in 10th position on the stage after running at the front for much of the day. Variawa showed strong pace throughout the opening and middle sections before a puncture in the final part of the stage cost the pair valuable time.

“Stage two was quite good,” said Variawa. “We were leading for most of the stage up until the last 100 kilometres. We then had a puncture and sat in dust for a bit, but the pace was really good. We managed to pass several cars and the car was amazing throughout. We’re happy with where we are and we have a good starting position for tomorrow.”

For Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena (#218), Stage 2 became a true test of endurance and determination. After an early puncture, a failure of the hydraulic jack resulted in the loss of power steering, forcing the pair to complete nearly 200 kilometres without power assistance.

“Tough day for us, it didn’t go to plan,” said Botterill. “We had to do almost 200 kilometres with no power steering and even change a tyre without a jack by parking the car on a hill. The body took a beating, but I can’t believe we only lost around 30 minutes. Oriol was as always very good on the notes, and considering everything, I think we did a great job.”

Despite the challenges of the day, all three TGRSA crews reached the AlUla bivouac and remain well placed in the overall standings. Ferreira and Palmeiro hold sixth overall, just over two minutes off the lead, while Variawa and Cazalet sit ninth at +4:34 after two stages. Botterill and Mena, despite their Stage 2 setback, continue the rally in 25th overall at +32:46 as the team focuses on recovery and consistency.

Looking ahead, Stage 3 will see the rally tackle a demanding loop around AlUla, featuring a 421 km special stage within a total distance of 736 km. With a heavy emphasis on dirt tracks and sand, limited stoned sections and no service route during the stage, accuracy, endurance and mechanical sympathy will again be key as Dakar 2026 begins to stretch both crews and machinery.

DAKAR RALLY 2026 – STAGE 2 RESULTS

DAKAR RALLY 2026 – STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 2