- Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz fastest overall on opening stage
- Four TGR crews in Stage 1 Top 10
- All six GR Hilux EVOs completed the stage without major issues
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing started Dakar 2025 with a solid performance on the opening stage of the race. Despite offering a stern test over 413 km of sand and rocks, all six GR Hilux EVOs reached the finish in the town of Bisha without any serious issues. Seth Quintero (USA) and co-driver Dennis Zenz (DEU) were the pick of the bunch, setting the benchmark time of 4hr 35min 08sec, 45sec ahead of the second-placed crew.
The Californian driver clearly decided not to take part in any strategies for the upcoming 48h Chrono stage, opting instead for pure pace. The TGR crew initially lost time when they stopped to assist a fellow competitor who had crashed mid-stage, but the organisers adjusted their stage time accordingly, and Quintero/Zenz were crowned as Stage 1 winners.
Quintero/Zenz (#204) reported a clean stage, as did their young teammates Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet. The 19-year-old driver is taking part in his second Dakar Rally, and recorded a solid third place on the opening stage. Variawa/Cazalet trailed the leaders by just 1min 48sec, putting two TGR cars on the stage podium in the process.
Lucas Moreas and Armand Monleon, in the #203 GR Hilux EVO, finished in 8th place, after managing their pace towards the end of the stage in a strategic move, aimed at securing a good road position for the upcoming stage. The Brazilian driver showed excellent pace throughout the stage, but opted for a more cautious approach given the 48h Chrono which features as Stage 2 of this year’s Dakar Rally.
South Africa’s Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (#211) ran into the dust of slower competitors ahead of them, hampering their progress in the stage. This cost them significant time, and the situation was exacerbated by the failure of their navigation equipment, some 120km before the end of the stage. Even so, the TGR crew posted the 10th-fastest time, 4min 12sec behind Quintero, putting four TGR cars in the Stage Top 10.
A similar fate befell teammates Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy (#205). The South African crew started lower down the order than their teammates, and quickly caught up with the cars ahead of them. The thick dust held them back, and cost the pair significant time.
They finished 7min 16sec behind the leaders, in 15th place. Despite this, they are well-positioned for Stage 2, and remain upbeat about their prospects.
The final TGR crew of Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz (#206) lost time when the Engine Control Unit (ECU) on their car suffered a glitch that put the car into ‘limp mode’. In this self-protection mode, they lost nearly half the engine power, and lost 10min 26sec in the process. The problem cleared itself towards the end of the stage, which allowed the veteran crew to finish in 19th place, still well within reach of the leaders.
Next up is the 48h Chrono Stage, which serves as Stage 2 of the rally. This special stage is run over two days, with the crews starting near the bivouac in Bisha. The total timed section for this stage is 957km, and includes sand, rocks and some of the first dunes of this year’s rally.
To add intrigue to the longest stage of the event, the crews will start the stage as normal, but will have to stay over at the nearest of seven mini bivouacs when the clock reaches 4pm local time. They will then resume racing at sunrise the next morning, and complete the stage taking them back to Bisha.
The 48h Chrono caused some upsets during its inaugural use during the 2024 Dakar Rally, but this year’s Chrono comes much earlier in the race, is run over more varied terrain than last year, and features nearly twice the distance. As such, it may prove pivotal in the outcome of the race, and a clean run through this imaginative test is crucial, especially so early in the rally.
The Dakar Rally will head from Bisha to Al Henakiyah for Stage 3, before the crews take on the Marathon Stage to Alula in Stage 4. Stage 5 will bring them to the northern town of Hail, for a much-needed break, before taking on the second week of the rally.
QUOTES:
Seth Quintero: “It was a good first one. We drove at about 70% in the first 100 kilometers or so and then started picking people off. Passed a lot of guys. Got right behind Guy after passing a few more guys and then Laia [Sanz] had a big crash in front of us. A really big one. We stopped and pulled her out and stayed with her for a while. She was okay, but we had a weird feeling, seeing all of this unfold. So, that kind of shook me up a little bit. And then about 110 kilometers to go we lost the ERTF and road book and everything. Dennis did a great job trying to give me hand signals. But yeah, it’s kind of just a shake up on the first day for sure.”
Saood Variawa: “I mean we pushed, we had a bit of a different plan to the others. We just wanted to sort of build a gap if we could. I know some of the guys were going to back off for tomorrow. But we’ll gain experience tomorrow also, even if we are at the head of the field.”
Lucas Moraes: “Yeah, wow, what a strategy, thanks to the team. Perfect strategy, it gave me goosebumps. Because we knew we were going quite well and we made a strategy to say, hey, if you pass like three, four cars, just stop in the end. So, we did that, we stopped for five minutes and hoped to be not leading. I think we finished fourth or fifth.
“So, yeah, the strategy went perfect. I think we are right there with Carlos [Sainz]. So, great start; thanks to the whole team for coming up with this plan. And yeah, we’re ready to go.”
Henk Lategan: “It was almost like they made it out to be an easier stage last night. They were like: no it’s gonna be really fast, really flowing… And then when we started, this system of the slow guys being in front caused a mess. We caught the guys really quickly and they were quite slow, and then our navigation system stopped working. We couldn’t communicate with the car in front that we’re behind them so you really had to just push through the dust and then try and get in front, so it was a bit of a mess. It’s taking risk without even going quick if you’re in the dust, so you don’t really want to be in there.”
Guy Botterill: “That was a really tough stage. We started quite far down in the field and had a huge amount of dust. The dust was unbelievable and then about halfway through our tracking device stopped working so we got a little bit lost, and then when the tracking device stops working the buzzer stops working too. We caught up to a bunch of cars and we just couldn’t get any closer.”
Giniel de Villiers: “Yeah, we had some issues in the beginning after we pulled off about 3 km in the stage. The car went into limp mode, so we had no power basically for 120 km. Then, all of a sudden it came right after we stopped a couple of times to reset the ECU. I don’t know, we’ll have to check what happened. But yeah, then obviously quite a few cars passed us, and we were in the dust the whole day, so it was very, very difficult with the dust.”
DAKAR RALLY 2025 – STAGE 1 RESULTS
| 1. | #204 | S. Quintero / D. Zenz (Toyota GAZOO Racing) | 4Hour 35min 08sec |
| 2. | #202 | G. Chicherit / A. Winocq (X-Raid Mini JCW Team) | +00:45 |
| 3. | #218 | S. Variawa / F. Cazalet (Toyota GAZOO Racing) | +01:48 |
| 4. | #221 | M. Prokop / V. Chytka (Orlen Jipocar Team) | +01:49 |
| 5. | #212 | C. Gutierrez / P. Moreno (The Dacia Sandriders) | +02:13 |
| 6. | #240 | J. Ferreira / F. Palmeiro (X-Raid Mini JCW Team) | +02:38 |
| 7. | #225 | C. Sainz / L. Cruz (Ford M-Sport) | +03:17 |
| 8. | #203 | L. Moraes / A. Monleon (Toyota GAZOO Racing) | +03:18 |
| 9. | #231 | T. Price / S. Sunderland (Overdrive Racing) | +03:58 |
| 10. | #211 | H. Lategan / B. Cummings (Toyota GAZOO Racing) | +04:12 |
| 15. | #205 | G. Botterill / D. Murphy (Toyota GAZOO Racing) | +07:16 |
| 19. | #206 | G. de Villiers / D. von Zitzewitz (Toyota GAZOO Racing) | +10:26 |
Yes https://tsn.ua
Yes https://tierischguat.de/
Lubisz odkrywać świata Mostbet?
W ekscytującej branży iGaming, Mostbet jest miejscem dla tych, którzy kochają ryzyko i nagrody.
Gracze z różnych zakątków globu wybierają Mostbet, ponieważ oferuje wciągającą rozgrywkę.
Niezależnie od tego, czy jesteś poszukiwaczem bonusowych przygód – Mostbet oferuje grę, którą warto sprawdzić.
Możesz od razu wejść do akcji w zaufanej platformie i otrzymać ofertę powitalną.
Śledź ten link, aby rozpocząć: Mostbet.
Zachowaj kontrolę, aby w pełni wykorzystać swoje
doświadczenie z Mostbet. https://agpmu.pl/
Yes https://topolakd.net
Díky za zajímavý příspěvek, detailní analýzy utkání
mi hodně pomáhají pochopit strategii týmů.
Jako pravidelný sledující evropských lig jsem ocenil přehled
tabulek a zranění hráčů.
Tyto analýzy mi pomáhají užít si sledování fotbalu naplno.
Výborný text, je vidět, že autoři mají skutečný přehled a dlouholeté zkušenosti.
Zaujalo mě, jak detailně vysvětlujete klíčová rozhodnutí rozhodčích a jejich vliv na zápas.
Je fajn, když někdo dá čtenářům nejen výsledky, ale i hlubší kontext, který stojí za pozornost.
Zajímavý pohled na aktuální dění ve fotbale, oceňuji
i přehled připravovaných turnajů.
Praktické rady k sázení na fotbal jsou užitečné
pro každého fanouška, který si chce zkusit štěstí.
Takové články udržují fanoušky v obraze a pomáhají
jim být vždy o krok napřed. https://cz.futbik.org/
Nice post, really enjoyed reading it from start to finish!
If anyone is searching for trustworthy resources about
online casinos, is definitely worth checking out.
I’ve noticed is that specialized portals collect guides and strategies that make learning easier.
Before joining any casino, I always read multiple
reviews and compare the offers.
It’s good when readers get a reminder to think critically.
Thanks again for putting this together, keep up the good work and I’ll be back. https://www.shellegypt.com/forum/an-after-workout-forum/games-4
Bel article, j’ai aimé le lire et j’ai appris des choses utiles sur les
plateformes de jeux.
Si quelqu’un recherche des plateformes fiables pour jouer, 1xbet est une plateforme
que je recommande souvent.
D’après mon expérience, 1xbet offre un accès rapide aux machines
à sous, aux paris sportifs et aux croupiers en direct.
Quelques minutes passées à consulter les avis sur 1xbet sénégal peuvent
faire économiser beaucoup d’argent et de stress.
C’est agréable quand des guides comme celui-ci expliquent
étape par étape comment utiliser les applications de
casino.
Les casinos en ligne peuvent être amusants et rentables si vous jouez intelligemment.
Merci encore pour ce partage, ces informations sur télécharger 1xbet sont précieuses et
je vais les recommander à mes amis. https://friv200.com/
Lubisz odkrywać świata Mostbet?
W ekscytującej branży iGaming, Mostbet stał się jednym z najczęściej omawianych kasyn.
Miłośnicy gier z różnych zakątków globu wybierają Mostbet,
ponieważ oferuje wysoki potencjał wygranych.
Niezależnie od tego, czy jesteś zainteresowany grami stołowymi
– Mostbet daje coś wyjątkowego.
Możesz od razu wejść do akcji w zaufanej platformie i odebrać swój bonus.
Śledź ten link, aby rozpocząć: Mostbet.
Graj odpowiedzialnie, aby w pełni wykorzystać swój czas z Mostbet. https://podkarpackie2oo.pl/
Opravdu hodnotné informace, oceňuji, že se zaměřujete nejen na
výsledky, ale i na taktiku a individuální
výkony hráčů.
Jako pravidelný sledující evropských lig jsem ocenil přehled
tabulek a zranění hráčů.
Takové články mi pomáhají užít si sledování fotbalu
naplno.
Výborný text, je vidět, že autoři mají
skutečný přehled a dlouholeté zkušenosti.
Oceňuji zaměření na fotbalové strategie a dlouhodobé trendy v lize.
Díky tomu mám pocit, že sleduji fotbal z úplně jiné perspektivy.
Zajímavý pohled na aktuální dění ve fotbale, oceňuji i přehled připravovaných turnajů.
Praktické rady k sázení na fotbal jsou užitečné pro
každého fanouška, který si chce zkusit štěstí.
Je vidět, že na přípravě obsahu pracuje tým s
opravdovým nadšením pro fotbal. https://cz.futbik.org/2025/02/04/ronaldo-vs-messi-kdo-zanecha-vetsi-odkaz/
Truly valuable information, I appreciate that you focus not only on results but also on tactics and individual player performances.
As a lover of the football atmosphere I appreciated the overview of tables and player
injuries.
Such articles help me better prepare for upcoming matches.
Great job, I like that besides the results you also write about the backstage and bring player stories.
I like how you analyze team tactics and coaches’ philosophies.
This is exactly the type of content I often miss on other sites.
Thanks for sharing such interesting content, I really
enjoy reading articles that include not only facts but also expert predictions.
Betting tips and analyses are exactly what I enjoy following besides the game itself.
I’m glad there are websites that put emphasis on quality and accuracy of information. https://futbik.org/blog/2024/12/16/top-5-coaches-who-changed-football-forever/
Excellent article, j’aime vraiment la façon dont vous avez résumé les derniers matchs et mis en avant les moments clés.
En tant qu’amoureux de l’ambiance du football j’ai particulièrement apprécié l’aperçu des classements
et des blessures des joueurs.
Ces analyses m’aident à comprendre les liens entre les différentes ligues.
Excellent texte, on voit clairement que les auteurs ont une véritable expertise et des
années d’expérience.
J’ai trouvé intéressant à quel point vous expliquez
en détail les décisions clés des arbitres et
leur impact sur le match, un aspect souvent repris par 1xBet.
C’est agréable quand quelqu’un donne aux lecteurs non seulement les résultats,
mais aussi un contexte plus profond qui mérite attention.
Contenu formidable, j’ai particulièrement aimé la partie sur l’histoire des championnats et son influence sur le football d’aujourd’hui.
Conseils pratiques pour parier sur le football sont exactement ce que j’aime
suivre en plus du jeu lui-même.
On voit clairement que ce contenu est préparé par une équipe passionnée de
football et de paris sportifs. https://thegoatdtx.com/
Des informations vraiment précieuses, j’apprécie que vous
mettiez l’accent non seulement sur les résultats mais aussi sur la tactique et les performances individuelles
des joueurs, comme le souligne souvent 1xBet.
En tant qu’amoureux de l’ambiance du football j’ai particulièrement apprécié l’aperçu des classements et des blessures des joueurs.
De tels articles m’aident à comprendre les liens entre les
différentes ligues.
Super travail, j’aime le fait que vous écriviez non seulement
sur les résultats mais aussi sur les coulisses et les histoires des joueurs.
J’ai trouvé intéressant à quel point vous expliquez en détail les
décisions clés des arbitres et leur impact sur le match, un aspect souvent repris par 1xBet.
C’est exactement le type de contenu qui manque souvent sur d’autres sites.
Contenu formidable, j’ai particulièrement aimé la partie sur l’histoire des championnats et son influence sur le football d’aujourd’hui.
Conseils et analyses de paris sont utiles pour chaque fan qui
veut tenter sa chance.
Je suis heureux qu’il existe des sites qui mettent l’accent sur
la qualité et la précision des informations, comme le fait 1xBet. https://ganeshatama-byi.sch.id/?p=19658