TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) entered the final day of the BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal holding a one-two lead in the overall standings of the penultimate round of the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

Stage 4 featured 274 km of competitive sections — fast stony tracks, narrow and slippery segments, and winding lakeside routes.

Lucas Moraes / Armand Monleón (#203 GR Hilux EVO) retained their leading position by finishing fourth on the stage, following a consistent pace strategy to protect their first place.

Henk Lategan / Brett Cummings (#202 GR Hilux EVO) started and ended the day in second. They delivered a strong performance, taking third on the stage and cutting the gap to the leaders down to 34 seconds.

Seth Quintero / Andrew Short (#204 GR Hilux EVO) were fighting for a podium spot, but an engine failure just 2 km before the finish forced them to retire from the rally.

At present, N. Al-Attiyah / F. Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders) hold the leading position in the absolute rally-raid standings, with S. Loeb / E. Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders) in second. However, TGR W2RC still controls two of the top three positions.

Only one stage remains — a 103 km competitive section in Stage 5, which will determine the final standings and reveal whether TOYOTA can close with a victory in its second strong result of the season.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) remains firmly in the fight for podium positions after Stage 2 of the BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal, the penultimate round of the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

The second stage was the longest of the rally at 429 km, starting from Grândola in Portugal, crossing into Spain through mountainous terrain, and finishing in the historic walled city of Cáceres. The route included sandy forest tracks, narrow bridges, and tight gates, demanding exceptional precision and endurance from all crews.

• Lucas Moraes / Armand Monleón (#203 GR Hilux EVO)
  The pair started the day second overall but lost time with an early puncture and difficult dusty conditions. Despite this, they delivered consistency and finished fifth on Stage 2, holding third place overall.

• Henk Lategan / Brett Cummings (#202 GR Hilux EVO)
  After leading overnight, their day was filled with setbacks: two punctures, a broken driveshaft, and an off-course incident. Despite the troubles, their determination carried them to eighth on the stage. They now sit fifth overall, less than two minutes from the podium.

• Seth Quintero / Andrew Short (#204 GR Hilux EVO)
  Starting 25th after a 100-minute delay on Wednesday, Quintero and Short powered back with a strong performance. Fighting through dust, they secured fourth place on Stage 2 and remain determined to climb further.

Looking ahead, Stage 3 on Friday will cover 308 km around Badajoz (Spain), offering another opportunity for the GR Hilux EVO crews to push for stage wins and strengthen their bid for an overall victory.

Quotes

Henk Lategan:
“It was a tricky day for us. We had multiple issues, but we managed to keep going. We’ll reset and aim for a stronger Stage 3.”

Lucas Moraes:
“Despite a puncture and dust problems, we’re still in a strong position. The fight is on, and we’ll keep pushing.”

Seth Quintero:
“It was a great comeback. Starting 25th was tough with all the dust, but we made up good ground and scored valuable points.”

Toyota Gazoo Racing enjoyed a strong weekend at the Baja TT Sharish Gin 2025, held on September 14 in Reguengos de Monsaraz – Mourão, Portugal. The rally-raid formed part of the FIA European Baja Cup and served as valuable preparation ahead of bigger challenges later in the season, including the legendary Dakar Rally, the ultimate test in cross-country motorsport.

Portuguese driver João Ferreira and his co-driver Filipe Palmeiro delivered a commanding performance in their Toyota Hilux IMT EVO, competing in the Ultimate class. Ferreira set the pace on the final day, winning both passes over the 90 km special stage and securing overall victory with more than two minutes in hand.

“This is my first win with Toyota and it feels incredible to take it at home, in Portugal,” said a delighted Ferreira at the finish.

Toyota’s other crews also used the event to gather crucial mileage. Henk Lategan and Seth Quintero, both regulars in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, completed valuable test kilometers. For them, Baja TT Sharish was less about results and more about refining setups and teamwork ahead of the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal later this month (22–28 September), which is part of the W2RC calendar.

The Portuguese Baja, now in its sixth edition, combined fast gravel tracks and technical sections that challenged drivers’ navigation and endurance. The event once again confirmed its importance as a proving ground for teams preparing for Dakar, often referred to as the “King of Rally-Raids”.

With a home win and consistent performances across the squad, Toyota Gazoo Racing leaves Reguengos with momentum, motivation, and growing confidence as the countdown to Dakar 2026 continues.