I’m Joining TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC for the 2026 Dakar Rally

I’m proud to share some huge news. I’ll be joining TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC for the 2026 Dakar Rally, driving the all-new GR Hilux with Armand Monleón in the navigator seat. This is one of those moments you work your whole life for, and it’s a bit surreal to say it out loud.

Stepping into a factory TGR W2RC program is something only a small group of people ever get the chance to do. I’m extremely grateful to Toyota, Red Bull, Peter Kittle Motor Company, and all our partners for believing in me and helping make this possible. The support behind this program means a lot, and I’m ready to give everything I have to repay that trust.

Heading back to Dakar feels special. My debut on four wheels didn’t go the way any of us expected, and seeing Sam sidelined with a concussion was tough. That experience only pushed me to come back sharper and more driven. Dakar is the toughest test in motorsport. There are endless variables working against you. Being in the seat of the all-new GR Hilux removes so many of those challenges, and the team’s record speaks for itself. The TGR W2RC crew hasn’t won four straight manufacturers titles by chance.

Teaming up with Armand is a massive opportunity. He has a huge amount of experience at the top level, and he brings a calm and detailed approach that works perfectly in these long desert stages. I feel like we’re in a great position to take the fight to the best in the game.

The new GR Hilux is a serious step forward. The chassis is lighter and stiffer, the transmission has been strengthened, and the whole package has been built to survive the worst Dakar can throw at you. The team has been putting it through a heavy testing program, and everything I’ve seen so far gives me a lot of confidence heading into Saudi Arabia.

This new chapter means a lot to me. I’m excited, grateful, and hungry to get after it with a world-class team and world-class equipment. Time to get to work 👍