Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) is the official partner for the South African Safari Rally, which takes place from 18 to 24 May 2025 and forms the third round of the W2RC – the first to be held in Southern Africa.
“Hosting a round of the World Rally-Raid Championship in South Africa this year would be impossible without the support and backing of our partners and sponsors. We are especially grateful and appreciative of the support from Toyota Gazoo Racing as the official partner of the inaugural South African Safari Rally,” said Archie Rutherford, CEO of the South African Safari Rally.
“Toyota Gazoo Racing has made a massive contribution to rally-raid and raised the calibre of the sport, both locally and internationally. Its sponsorship of the South African Safari Rally has enabled us to bring the W2RC to South Africa, helping us deliver a world-class event for the competitors and spectators,” Rutherford said.
Toyota Gazoo Racing is Toyota’s global motorsport division, dedicated to pushing the limits of performance and engineering across multiple disciplines. From dominating the World Rally Championship (WRC) and the World Endurance Championship (WEC) to competing at the highest level in the W2RC, TGR has become synonymous with innovation, resilience, and success in motorsport.
Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) plays an integral role in Toyota’s rally-raid success, having been responsible for developing and building the GR Hilux EVO, which has become one of the most competitive vehicles in global rally-raid racing. Manufactured and refined in South Africa, the Hilux has been a staple in TGR’s Dakar efforts, demonstrating quality, durability, and reliability across the toughest conditions on earth.
“Building on our extensive Dakar and rally-raid heritage, TGR and TGRSA are proud to welcome the third round of the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) to South Africa. As the official partner of the Safari Rally, Toyota is deeply committed to supporting the expansion of rally-raid racing in the country and showcasing the breathtaking landscapes and technical rally stages that South Africa has to offer,” said Glenn Crompton, Vice President of Marketing, Toyota South Africa.
“The South African Safari Rally marks an important milestone in Toyota’s continued investment in rally-raid, providing a unique opportunity to bring top-tier international motorsport to Africa’s rally-raid heartland,” Crompton said.
A legacy of rally-raid success
Toyota’s rally-raid heritage runs deep, with the Dakar Rally playing a crucial role in shaping the brand’s off-road DNA. Since entering the Dakar Rally in the early 2010s, Toyota has consistently been a front-runner in the world’s toughest motorsport event. TGRSA has been part of the larger TGR Dakar effort for more than a decade, working closely with Toyota’s global teams to develop cutting-edge rally-raid technology.
This has contributed to Toyota Gazoo Racing winning the Dakar Rally on three occasions (2019, 2022, 2023) and finishing runner-up a further four times (2018, 2020, 2021, 2025). This success demonstrates the ability of the highly capable and technically advanced GR Hilux EVO T1+. A race vehicle designed and manufactured by SVR Racing to compete in the arduous conditions experienced during the W2RC events. SVR Racing`s Team has ensured that the GR Hilux remains competitive from stage to stage and that the Driver / Navigator pairings are able to conquer the challenges they encounter.
SVR Racing, based in Kyalami, Gauteng, South Africa, has enabled Toyota Gazoo South Africa to enter a Proudly South African Built race vehicle and lead the way in the highly competitive International Racing Arena.
Through its involvement in rally-raid competition around the world, Toyota Gazoo Racing continues to develop and refine vehicles capable of conquering extreme terrain, reinforcing Toyota’s commitment to creating ever-better cars for the road and track alike.
With its participation in W2RC, WRC, and WEC, Toyota remains committed to pushing the limits for better, refining performance technology through the toughest motorsport challenges on the planet. As the Safari Rally prepares to host Round 3 of the 2025 W2RC, TGR and TGRSA stand ready to welcome the world to a high-speed showcase of endurance, innovation, and rally-raid excellence.
The closing date for South African Safari Rally entries is 30 April 2025.
