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ROOKIE Racing and TOYOTA announce participation in 25-hour endurance race in Thailand

TOKYO, Dec 12, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - ROOKIE Racing Co., Ltd. (ROOKIE Racing) and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced their competition in the IDEMITSU 1500 SUPER ENDURANCE 2022 (Thailand 25H Endurance Race) at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand from December 17 to 18, 2022, with the ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 concept, a hydrogen engine vehicle, and the ORC ROOKIE GR86 CNF Concept, a carbon-neutral (CN) fuel vehicle. The participation will not be for the entire 25-hours but will be for the first and last few hours of the race. This will be the first time for both vehicles to compete in a race outside of Japan. In addition, one of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing team Thailand's vehicles is also scheduled to run on CN fuel. Starting with our participation in the Thailand 25H Endurance Race, we strive to increase CN options in Asia, through motorsports.ROOKIE Racing and Toyota participated in the Super Taikyu series in Japan midway through the 2021 season with a hydrogen-powered Corolla and accelerated efforts of "producing," "transporting," and "using" hydrogen together with like-minded partners inside and outside the industry in the interest of helping to achieve a CN society. From the 2022 season, in addition to the hydrogen engine Corolla, we are racing the CN fuel GR86 and continuing to approach the challenge of expanding fuel options using internal combustion engines.In addition, during the ninth round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in Ypres in August and the 13th round of the WRC Rally Japan in November, we ran a demonstration of the GR Yaris H2 hydrogen engine vehicle under test development to show European and Japanese rally fans the potential of hydrogen as an option for achieving CN.The Chang International Circuit venue is a major international circuit in Thailand and hosts the Thailand MotoGP, the world's most prestigious motorcycle race. Since its opening in 2014, Toyota Motor Thailand Co., Ltd. has been the circuit's main sponsor and has promoted the development of motorsports in Thailand by holding one-make races there. ROOKIE Racing won the 10-hour IDEMITSU 600 SUPER ENDURANCE 2019, its first entry in a race held at the circuit. In this race, our first entry in three years, we will train our car in an environment different from Japan to accelerate efforts to expand fuel options toward creating a CN society. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Presents 2023 Race Team Setups

TOKYO, Nov 25, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) announced on November 25 its domestic and international race entry structure and the outline of TGR GR86/BRZ Cup and TGR Yaris Cup for the 2023 season.- The Hypercar category of the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season will see a number of new rivals participate, and will also mark the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Under the leadership of Team Principal Kamui Kobayashi, our aim is to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a sixth time in a row, and to secure both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' double for a fifth year in succession.- In the SUPER GT and the Japanese Super Formula Championship, which are the highest categories of racing in Japan, our aim is to win both the Drivers' and the Teams' Championships. TGR will also engage in coordination with all related parties to enhance the motorsports industry in Japan.- In Japan-Based Participatory Motorsport Events, we will use the TGR Yaris Cup as a way to expand the driver base, and work together with racing circuit operators to ensure even safer races.TGR will continue its practice of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars and pursuing activities to enhance the appeal and sustainability of motorsports.*We will announce our plans for the Super Taikyu series in due course.For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/38320129.html. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Presents 2023 Rally Team Setups

TOKYO, Nov 18, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) announced on November 18 its domestic and international rally entry structure and the outline of TGR Rally Challenge for the 2023 season.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (PHOTO BY Noriaki MITSUHASHI / N-RAK PHOTO AGENCY)- In the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), in which TGR will seek its third consecutive title treble, the team of Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston has been promoted to the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT roster, where they will share the position of driving the third car with the team of Sebastien Ogier and Vincent Landais.- In the Japanese Rally Championship, in which Toyota employees participate as the team principal, engineers, and mechanics, TGR will continue to put into practice its approach of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars, with Norihiko Katsuta and Yusuke Kimura, as well as Tomoyuki Shinkai and Yuichi Ando, coming back from last season to compete in a new vehicle model that is currently under development.- To promote regional development by organizing rallies, TGR will once again work with local communities across Japan to hold the TGR Rally Challenge, in which anyone can compete.TGR will continue its practice of making ever-better motorsports-bred cars and pursuing activities to enhance the appeal and sustainability of motorsports.For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/38249869.html. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Titles on the line for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

TOKYO, Nov 4, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is prepared for a title showdown in the 8 Hours of Bahrain this weekend, when the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) reaches an exciting climax.After five races of a hard-fought season so far, the battle for Hypercar manufacturers' and drivers' titles is still open going into the final round at Bahrain International Circuit. The drivers' standings could not be closer. This year's Le Mans winners Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa, driving the #8 GR010 HYBRID, are tied on points with their rivals in the #36 Alpine, meaning the title will go to the crew which finishes highest on Saturday. Reigning World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez, in the #7 GR010 HYBRID, retain a mathematical chance of their third consecutive title. They are 26 points behind, with 39 points still to be won in Bahrain, and can take the crown if their competitors fail to finish. In the manufacturers' standings, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is within touching distance of winning the title for a fourth consecutive season. With a 26-point lead after five rounds, another World Championship is guaranteed if at least one of the two GR010 HYBRIDs reaches the chequered flag. But, following a one-two on home ground at Fuji Speedway in the previous round, the team has bigger ambitions in Bahrain, where it has won seven of the 10 WEC rounds, and it targets a sixth consecutive victory at the 5.412km circuit. The 8 Hours of Bahrain brings the curtain down on TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's 10th season in WEC and will be the team's 76th race since its 2012 debut. Victory on Saturday would be the team's 39th and would secure its fifth manufacturers' and drivers' World Championship double. Practice in Bahrain begins on Thursday with two 90-minute practice sessions, the first taking place at lunchtime and the second beginning just after sunset, to allow teams to prepare for the day-night race. Following a one-hour final practice on Friday morning, qualifying is held over 10 minutes in the evening and the race begins on Saturday at 2pm local time (midday CET).For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wec/release/2022/rd06-preview/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Toyota: GR Models to be Exhibited at the 2022 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show

TOKYO, Nov 2, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) announced at the SEMA (Special Equipment Market Association) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 1, 2022, the "GR COROLLA RALLY CONCEPT", the "GR SUPRA '10-SECOND TWINS'", planned and built by Toyota Motorsports Garage, the "GR86 DAILY DRIFTER", a drifting concept car created by Larry Chen, and the "GR86 CUP CAR", a cup car for the "GR Cup", a one-make race to be held by TOYOTA GAZOO Racing North America (hereinafter referred to as TGRNA) from 2023.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, which promotes making ever-better motorsports-bred cars, will present the GR lineup reflecting the knowledge gained from the challenges and victories of racing and rallying in the development of production vehicles and concept models at the show, the largest event for automotive customization enthusiasts in North America.For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/toyota/38172289.html. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Toyota: Upgraded GR Supra GT4 EVO Launched for 2023

Toyota City, Japan, Oct 28, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has launched an updated GR Supra GT4 race car for the 2023 season which delivers enhanced braking, handling and engine performance.Prototype vehicle shown in optional orange wrappingTOYOTA GAZOO Racing has extensively utilised customer and driver feedback to improve the dedicated race car, which is already a champion in three regions, Japan, the United States and Europe, and has earned over 100 podium finishes.Since its first full racing season in 2020, more than 50 GR Supra GT4 cars have participated in races around the world, and customers have earned victories in 11 national and international GT4 championships. In August this year, the car celebrated its 50th class win in a major championship(1).But competition within the popular GT4 category is intense and development of the GR Supra GT4 has continued with an EVO update for the coming season, to ensure TOYOTA GAZOO Racing customers can continue to achieve top results in the future.At events around the world since the car's launch, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing engineers have provided track support to customer teams and drivers, who delivered valuable insights which are only possible via the pressure of on-track competition.User feedback and requests have flowed directly into the development of the GR Supra GT4 EVO, which follows TOYOTA's commitment to continuous improvement and building ever-better motorsports-bred cars for customers.In response to constructive customer feedback and the results of detailed evaluations, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing development engineers focused their efforts on three key areas: brakes, handling and engine.Thanks to an improved brake system design, new ABS settings, latest KW damper technology and updated anti-roll bar specification, the GR Supra GT4 EVO will deliver improved handling and higher cornering speeds.Drivers will be able to push for faster lap times due to increased power and an optimised torque curve of the 3.0-litre, six-cylinder, turbocharged engine, which benefits from more effective cooling.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's close cooperation with its GT4 teams and drivers, and their valuable first-hand feedback, helped set specific targets for the upgrade. The GR Supra GT4 EVO is therefore easier to drive for ambitious amateur drivers whilst it also provides the precise performance demanded by professional racers.The contact companies in each region for GT4 vehicle sales and customer support, including sales of spare parts and engineering support, are TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe GmbH for Europe, TRD U.S.A., Inc. for North America, and TOYOTA CUSTOMIZING & DEVELOPMENT Co., Ltd. for Japan and Asia.The GR Supra GT4 EVO will make its competitive debut in January 2023 at the 24 Hours of Daytona, the first round of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge season.Orders for the GR Supra GT4 EVO will be taken from October 28 2022 and an upgrade kit will be available to existing GR Supra GT4 customers.(1) Achieved by Masayoshi Oyama and Masayuki Ueda for Akiland Racing, in the Am class of GT World Challenge Asia at Sportsland Sugo in Japan.For more information, visit bit.ly/3TZ4S7O. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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One-two home victory for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

Toyota City, Japan, Sep 12, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing achieved a perfect one-two victory in the 6 Hours of Fuji to celebrate the return of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) to Japan in impressive style.Fuji Speedway hosted WEC for the first time since 2019 and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing strengthened its World Championship challenge and celebrated a memorable homecoming by winning on the GR010 HYBRID Hypercar's Japanese debut. Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa delivered a flawless performance in the #8 GR010 HYBRID to earn their second victory of the season, adding to their Le Mans 24 Hours triumph and delivering the team's eighth win in nine races at Fuji Speedway. World Champions Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez took second place in their #7 GR010 HYBRID, 1min 8.382secs behind, to complete a hard-earned clean sweep in the penultimate round of the 2022 WEC season. Maximum points from its home race brings TOYOTA GAZOO Racing a big step closer to retaining its manufacturers' World Championship, extending its lead to 26 over Alpine, who finished third at Fuji while the #8 crew are now level on points at the top of the drivers' standings heading into the final race. Another enthusiastic crowd packed the Fuji Speedway grandstands and saw Kamui in the pole position #7 lead the field away on a hot, sunny day. Kamui established a slender gap over Sebastien in the #8 as the GR010 HYBRIDs set the tone for the race by leading the way from the beginning. Just a few seconds separated the two during the first hour, which ended with both pitting for two new tyres and more fuel. Kamui retained the lead in the #7 but Sebastien was gradually closing the gap and moved into the lead on lap 64. As the two-hour mark approached, Kamui handed over the second-placed #7 to Jose. A lap later, Brendon took the wheel of the #8 and resumed with a 6secs lead, with the third-placed Alpine over 50secs behind. Brendon began to build a comfortable margin at the front and extended his advantage over Jose to 10secs at next pit stops, which came at half distance. By the time of the next driver changes, with just under two hours remaining, Brendon had a decisive 30-second lead. Ryo, already a winner at Fuji Speedway this season in Super Formula, took the wheel of the #8 as Mike replaced Jose in the #7 for the final stretch. With a one-lap advantage over the third-placed Alpine, the GR010 HYBRIDs controlled the remainder of the race, taking no unnecessary risks. After 232 laps without safety car or full course yellow, Ryo took the chequered flag to secure TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's third victory of the season, its 37th from 75 hybrid-powered WEC races since 2012. Mike followed 1min 8.382secs later, completing the team's second one-two of the season. The fight for both World Championships therefore goes to the final race of the season, when Bahrain International Circuit hosts an eight-hour title decider on 12 November.6 Hours of Fuji - Result:1st #8 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 232 laps2nd #7 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +1min 8.382secs3rd #36 Alpine Elf Team (Negrao/Lapierre/Vaxiviere) +2 laps4th #93 Peugeot TotalEnergies (Di Resta/Jensen/Vergne) +7 laps5th #31 WRT (Galael/Frijns/Vanthoor) +7 laps6th #38 JOTA (Gonzalez/Da Costa/Stevens) +8 lapsFor more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wec/release/2022/rd05-race/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Honda to Extend Power Unit Technical Support Agreement with Red Bull Power Trains to End of 2025

TOKYO, Aug 3, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Following discussions between Red Bull and Honda, it has been agreed by both parties that Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), the Honda subsidiary that runs its racing activities, will continue to provide technical support for Red Bull Powertrains (RBPT) relating to Formula 1 power units from 2023 to the end of 2025. In 2022, HRC has been providing PU-related technical support in line with Red Bull's request to Honda, with both Oracle Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri therefore using the PU from the support program. The extension of the existing agreement for HRC to continue providing technical support from 2023 to 2025 has now been mutually agreed between Red Bull and Honda.Honda officially ended its participation in Formula 1 at the end of 2021, with the resources allocated to PU development diverted to meet the company's future carbon-neutral goals. The ongoing agreement between the two parties does not involve PU development, therefore HRC will be able to provide this service from within its current resources.Dr. Helmut Marko, Motorsport Advisor, Oracle Red Bull Racing: "We thank Honda for their positive response to working together. We are excited to continue our partnership in F1 until the end of 2025 with the PU supplied by Honda. We have had a successful relationship so far, winning the Drivers' championship in 2021 and currently leading the Drivers' and Teams' classifications, with the aim of securing both 2022 titles."Christian Horner, Red Bull Powertrains CEO and Team Principal: "Red Bull's partnership with Honda has been an incredibly successful one and we are pleased that this will continue until the end of the current era of the FIA's power unit regulations in 2025."Koji Watanabe, Head of Corporate Communications Supervisory Unit, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and President of Honda Racing Corporation: "We have agreed to continue supporting Red Bull Power Trains in Formula 1 through HRC, following Red Bull's request to extend our current agreement, which HRC can meet within its existing resources. Once again, we aim to use our involvement in the pinnacle of motorsport for the development of technologies and of our workforce." Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Double Monza podium for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

TOKYO, Jul 11, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing earned a dramatic double podium finish in the 6 Hours of Monza after an exciting but ultimately frustrating fourth round of the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).Both GR010 HYBRIDs were strong contenders for victory in an incident-packed race at the Temple of Speed, but suffered misfortune in the heat of Hypercar competition.Fresh from their Le Mans 24 Hours win, Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa overcame an early technical issue on their #8 GR010 HYBRID to finish second, only 2.762secs behind the winning #36 Alpine.Last year's Monza winners, Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez in the #7 GR010 HYBRID, were leading when they lost time following contact with the Alpine. The reigning World Champions finished third, two laps behind.A spectacular race among four Hypercar manufacturers leaves both World Championships wide open going into the final two races. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing leads the manufacturers' standings by 15 points from Alpine, while the #8 crew are second in the drivers' rankings, 10 points behind their Alpine counterparts.The two GR010 HYBRIDs were part of a close race from the very beginning. After a clean start, Sebastien drove brilliantly to hold second place under pressure from Alpine, while Jose was close behind in fourth.Two full course yellows in the opening 30 minutes saw all Hypercars make fuel stops. Smart strategy elevated Sebastien into second and Jose into third, although they were unable to challenge the race-leading Glickenhaus.Late in the first hour, Sebastien's race was interrupted by an electrical issue. He managed the issue well but could not avoid dropping two positions on track, including losing second to Jose. A system reset at his next scheduled pit stop cost 30 seconds and put him fifth but the car was back on the pace and Sebastien overtook Peugeot #94 for fourth.A full course yellow around one-third distance triggered the next pit stops. Mike took over the #7 car and diced for second place with the Alpine, while Brendon resumed in the #8.The complexion of the race changed after two-and-a-half hours when an accident from a GT competitor necessitated a safety car and closed up the field. All Hypercars pitted and Mike overhauled the Glickenhaus for the lead, thanks to a shorter pit stop.When the race resumed at half distance, Brendon moved into second when Glickenhaus served a drive-through penalty for a speeding infringement. He held position until the next pit stops, despite a sustained challenge from the Alpine.The top three Hypercars were separated by only a few seconds going into the final two hours and the positions alternated at each pit stop as a result of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and Alpine changing tyres at different intervals.Towards the end of the fifth hour, with Kamui leading a GR010 HYBRID one-two, Ryo heroically held off the Alpine, which was on fresher tyres, for several laps before dropping to third on lap 153. A lap later, Kamui was defending the lead on the start-finish straight when the #7 and the Alpine made contact.The #7 sustained a right rear puncture and damage to its bodywork, and Kamui returned slowly to the pits for repairs. Thanks to a full course yellow, he lost only one lap and returned in third. When racing resumed with an hour remaining, Ryo was second and putting pressure on the race leader.Ryo showed impressive speed, as well as skill through the traffic, to keep the pressure on and he closed to within three seconds at the chequered flag. Kamui, who served a 90-second penalty as a result of the incident with the Alpine, took the flag in the #7 in third, two laps behind.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing therefore travels to the 6 Hours of Fuji with a point to prove, intent on returning to winning ways in its home race. The team has won seven of its eight races at Fuji Speedway and expects to challenge for another victory on 11 September in the penultimate round of the 2022 season.For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wec/release/2022/rd04-race/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing reaches for top gear at the halfway stage

TOKYO, Jul 8, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team arrives at the midway point of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship season at Rally Estonia (July 14-17): the first of two back-to-back events on fast gravel roads in the north of Europe.2022 GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRIDEstonia was the scene of Kalle Rovanper's maiden WRC victory one year ago. Since then, the young Finn has taken five further victories, including four in the last five events to build a lead of 65 points in the drivers' championship.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing heads the manufacturers' standings by 62 points after a historic 1-2-3-4 finish on last month's Safari Rally Kenya led by Rovanpera, Elfyn Evans and TGR WRT Next Generation driver Takamoto Katsuta. Esapekka Lappi will return to the TGR WRT line-up in Estonia alongside Rovanpera and Evans for his fourth start of the season.Rally Estonia offers a very different challenge to the three previous rounds on gravel, with smooth and fast roads featuring many jumps and crests, although the soft and sandy surface can become rutted for the second pass of each stage.The rally is based in Tartu, Estonia's second largest city, and begins on Thursday evening with a short super special next to the service park. Both Friday and Saturday feature a loop of four stages to be run twice either side of mid-day service. Another pass of the super special to round out Saturday's action and an extended version around the Raadi airfield, run in the opposite direction to last year's Power Stage, opens two loops of three stages on Sunday. The rally-ending Power Stage once more takes place over the Kambja test, as it did in 2020.For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wrc/release/2022/rd07-preview/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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CortDAO Racing W Series Team Launches NFT Initiative To Supercharge Women’s Participation In Motorsports

Hopes to raise GBP1million with initial release; proceeds go to team sponsorship and CortDAO's W Series investment LONDON, June 30, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Women have been historically underrepresented in motorsport due to the lack of funding and opportunity. CortDAO, in partnership with W Series, is looking to change that dynamic. By appealing to the Web3 community and a growing women's motorsports fanbase, CortDAO is launching its first-ever series of NFTs, with its proceeds to be invested in W Series. CortDAO was founded by Michael Livingston with the mission to build a community-led platform that could authentically promote female racers and further women in motorsports. The first step of its mission was to launch a team in W Series, the world's first free-to-enter single-seater motor racing championship for women. Unveiled in March, the CortDAO Racing W Series Team now competes in the 2022 season of W Series and is preparing for the upcoming round at Silverstone, UK, alongside the F1 Lenovo British Grand Prix this weekend. CortDAO is looking at new ways to involve the Web3 community in its crowdfunding ventures, as well as engage with corporate sponsors who believe in its mission. With W Series Round 4 around the corner, the focus is now on releasing CortDAO's first-ever NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to secure additional investment. Launching on 30 June - a total of 10,000 NFTs depicting two bespoke CortDAO Racing assets (5,000 NFTs of each design with a unique identifier from 1 to 5,000) will be issued. The two designs, created by Team Quantum Punks, will be 3D virtual depictions of the limited-edition racing helmets of team drivers Marta Garcia (21, ESP) and Fabienne Wohlwend (24, LIE). One-third of the proceeds from the sale of CortDAO NFTs will go towards sponsorship of the team, and two-thirds of the proceeds will go towards CortDAO's investment in W Series Limited at the last traded price. CortDAO is looking to raise GBP1milion in this initial release, and in time, CortDAO will offer purchasers the opportunity to convert each NFT into a token. Michael Livingston (Founder CortDAO) "We have had many people wanting to assist in growing W Series and women's racing and have tried to price our NFTs as affordable as possible to our fanbase. Our NFTs will bring fans closer to the action and allow them to feel a sense of pride as their money will go towards supporting women struggling to succeed in a male-dominated sport. CortDAO will not receive any profits from the sale of its NFTs, so our intentions are genuine. The proceeds after costs will flow to W Series so that purchasers will be helping not only CortDAO and our brilliant drivers, Fabienne Wohlwend and Marta Garcia, but also the whole W Series." Follow: Instagram // Discord // TikTok // Twitter // OpenSea // Contact: Email: contact@cortdao.com Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing wins fifth Le Mans 24 Hours

TOKYO, Jun 14, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing stormed to victory in the 90th Le Mans 24 Hours to extend its winning run to five at the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe.Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley and Ryo Hirakawa drove a brilliant race in their #8 GR010 HYBRID, completing 380 laps to take the chequered flag in front of a passionate crowd.The team's fourth one-two finish at Le Mans was secured by last year's winners, Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez, in their #7 GR010 HYBRID, which crossed the line just 2mins 1.222secs behind in second.Sebastien's fourth win sets a new victory record for Swiss drivers while Brendon's third triumph makes him New Zealand's most successful Le Mans driver. A first win for Ryo, in his third Le Mans and his first with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, makes him the fifth Japanese driver to stand in the centre of the podium.The two GR010 HYBRID Hypercars were the class of the field and engaged in a close battle at the front, with the lead changing hands several times as the race ebbed and flowed, with traffic, slow zones and track evolution all coming into play.That contest continued for 16 hours, with the two cars running just a few seconds apart for most of that time. But the complexion of the race changed decisively on lap 256 when Jose pulled the race-leading #7 car to the side of the track following an issue relating to the front motor.Jose performed a system reset and was able to return to the pits, where further resets solved the issue and allowed the #7 to continue at normal racing speed, albeit nearly a lap behind the new leader, Brendon in the #8 GR010 HYBRID.With closely-matched performance, that deficit proved too great for the #7 crew to overcome, despite Jose setting the fastest lap of the race within the last half hour.Brendon, following his spectacular last-minute Hyperpole on Thursday, had the honour of taking the chequered flag to win the 90th Le Mans 24 Hours. Jose followed soon after to complete a gruelling 5,177km of racing.That result earned double points towards the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship, which puts TOYOTA GAZOO Racing on top of the manufacturers' standings after three races, 22 points ahead of Alpine. The drivers' championship is wide open, with the #8 crew just three points of the leading Alpine trio, and #7 20 behind.The focus will return to the fight for World Championship honours in just four weeks at the 6 Hours of Monza on 10 July.Akio Toyoda (Team Founder)"Congratulations to car #8! Thank you to car #7 for being part of this 1-2 finish! This year Le Mans was a 1-2 race from the beginning to the end. However, the drivers could not run comfortably through the whole race. Instead, I think all the drivers drove with some stress.From the start for 16 hours, there were no problems with both car #7 and #8, and they were competing, racing within a few seconds with each other. We were able to compete for a long time because both cars were built to the same level and ran without trouble. The drivers were also grateful for this.On the other hand, I think it was a big burden for the drivers to have two cars from the same team competing for such a long time. I think it was really hard, but the drivers continued to fight hard. I would like to thank our six drivers.However, after that, the fight ended because we couldn't continue to run both cars perfectly. Car #7 stopped on the track when the race was about to start its final eight hours. Though we could re-start our race with that car and return to the track, this forced the drivers to run with the feeling that they didn't know when the car might stop again. I feel sorry for the drivers who continue to fight despite these extreme feelings. Thank you everyone for keeping the car running until the end.In addition, Kamui also took on the role of Team Principal at Le Mans for the first time. Instead of being distant, I heard that he went and talked to engineers and mechanics, and faced the challenges that came up from everyone. Although he hasn't been able to communicate with all the members yet, and he also said that team building is a work in progress, I think the team is gradually changing. Thank you Kamui for working hard as a Team Principal.But I understand as well how you felt as a driver, that you were eager to win but the result was so regrettable. You had the fastest lap, and then Jose took it late in the race - car #7 had naturally turned into a faster car as the race went on. I wanted car #8 to secure the victory earlier, but at the same time I wanted car #7 to take the lead again - even I felt such feelings. Thank you for keeping running and sticking with the fight until the last moment.Taking both roles as a driver and as a Team Principal can make you feel so complicated. But I think it is thanks to Kamui that our two cars could compete fairly until the end of the race. I really appreciate him for taking such important roles. I was quite happy to see Kazuki and Kamui standing on the podium with different roles from previously. Car building and team building are endless battles. Please continue to encourage a team feeling. And for Kamui, keep pushing as a driver.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing was able to win Le Mans five times in a row. Thank you to our many, many fans and partners who continue to fight together. Thank you everyone. I really appreciate all for your continuous support."Kamui Kobayashi (Driver, car #7):"Congratulations to Sebastien, Brendon, Ryo and the car #8 crew. Unfortunately for car #7, we had a problem in the early morning and that cost us the race lead. We were fighting with car #8 for a long time, and we were so close. We did a really good race apart from that, so it's really a pity that it happened. That's how it goes in a 24-hour race sometimes. It's a credit to TOYOTA GAZOO Racing that we came back on track and finished on the same lap. Thanks to Mike and Jose, and the whole car crew, for the big effort this week. I appreciate the effort from everyone in the team; we came to Le Mans with the target of a one-two finish and we achieved that."Mike Conway (Driver, car #7):"I don't think this place likes us very much; there is always something. I know we won last year but we've had some tough times here. Congratulations to our team-mate in car #8, particularly Ryo. To win it on your first attempt is something else. It's always a pleasure to work with Kamui and Jose and we gave our all for the Le Mans victory but unfortunately we came up short. But it's a great one-two for the team and the fifth win in a row for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, which is something to be proud of. I'd like to say a big thanks to all the team, at Higashi-Fuji and Cologne. There is still a World Championship to fight for and we have three races to go, so that's on my mind right now and we will keep pushing."Jose Maria Lopez (Driver, car #7):"It hurts to miss the Le Mans win. We are all competitive people and we want to win, but we also have to know how to take defeat and be happy for the team, particularly with this one-two result for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. Congratulations to car #8; they did a great job. We did an almost perfect race and this explains the big gap to our Hypercar competitors, who all had some trouble. We managed everything to perfection. We showed we had the speed in the car and the will to win so to face an issue is tough. But thanks to the team for getting the car going again and allowing us to keep fighting. It's good to be part of a one-two for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing at Le Mans."Sebastien Buemi (Driver, car #8):"It's hard for me to express myself after that race because it's just an amazing feeling, especially to be in the centre of the podium with Ryo and Brendon. It is fantastic that we were able to win together with Ryo in his first Le Mans as part of the #8 car. He has done such a great job and I'd like to congratulate him for his performance. The whole team, and our crew, executed a perfect race without any mistakes and no damage to the car. It's an incredible feeling to win Le Mans for the fourth time, and the fifth time for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. It will take a little bit of time before it sinks in because it's hard to realise what we achieved today."Brendon Hartley (Driver, car #8):"It's a great achievement to get a one-two at Le Mans for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing. It was a great feeling to be behind the wheel for qualifying and to get pole position, and it was even more special to take the race finish. It's the first time I've been able to do that and I was overwhelmed with emotions when I crossed the line. During the whole race you are trying not to think about the finish because we have seen what can happen in the last laps, particularly with TOYOTA. So when you cross the line, all the emotions come out and it's a great feeling. I am so happy for Ryo, who has integrated really well. We love him and he is a strong part of the team already. We also have a great relationship with the car #7 crew and it was fun to battle so hard with them for most of the race. We were flat-out for so long but after car #7 had their problem we backed off and took minimal risk."Ryo Hirakawa (Driver, car #8):"It's an honour to join the list of legends who have won Le Mans. To be honest, I still cannot believe my dream has come true today. It was such a close race for so long and we had such a great fight with car #7. Thank you to Sebastien and Brendon who have helped me a lot since I joined the team; it is an honour to drive in the same car as them. It is fantastic to have a one-two in my first Le Mans for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and this is thanks to the hard work of the whole team. We had a perfect strategy, great pit stops and a race without any problems; I don't think we could do more."Le Mans 24 Hours - 18 Hours:1st #8 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 380 laps2nd #7 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +2mins 1.222secs3rd #709 Glickenhaus Racing (Briscoe/Westbrook/Mailleux) +5 laps4th #708 Glickenhaus Racing (Pla/Dumas/Derani) +10 laps5th #38 JOTA (Gonzalez/Da Costa/Stevens) +11 laps6th #9 Prema Orlen Team (Kubica/Deletraz/Colombo) +11 laps Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing announces the outline of TGR GT Cup 2022 online race

Toyota City, Japan, Apr 18, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) has announced details on the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing GT CUP (TGR GT Cup) 2022, an online race in "Gran Turismo 7" for PlayStation 5(1) (PS5) and PlayStation 4(1) (PS4).The TGR GT Cup is a global series in which the GR lineup, including GR road vehicles and dedicated racing cars, will participate in competitive racing throughout the season. Seven qualifying rounds will be held online, and the top 24 players will qualify for the final.As this year's event will be held in Gran Turismo 7, it will feature the nostalgic Toyota Supra GT500 '97 (Castrol TOM'S) and other car models will be added via updates. In addition, Subaru will be participating for the first time as a partner in TGR e-Motorsports activities, and Round 5 will feature the Subaru BRZ in addition to the GR86 as options. Subaru and TGR have been developing the Subaru BRZ and GR86 jointly in friendly competition with each other, and the two companies are partners in the creation of ever-better cars. This collaboration is now extending to the field of virtual racing as well. Keep an eye out for both cars participating and battling it out in the real-life field of motorsports.TGR plans to continue an active engagement in e-Motorsports activities so that motorsports can be enjoyed closer than ever before beyond the boundaries of countries and generations.(1) "PlayStation", "PS5", and "PS4" are registered trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.For more information, visit https://global.toyota/en/newsroom/corporate/37201866.html. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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DeFiHorse Is Announcing Its IBCO Now

MAHE, Seychelles, March 10, 2022 – (SEAPRWire) – DeFiHorse announces IBCO on 10th March 2022 at 1pm UTC time on their website. Millions of investors all over the world are waiting for this IBCO so that they can become the real investors of the top global project.  With 6,680,000 Defihorse tokens for sale will be live soon. Investors can check here for more information: http://ibco.defihorse.com/ibco/ DeFiHorse has raised $5 million in capital from several overseas ventures to produce a stunning horse metaverse project, in both gameplay and graphics, based on blockchain technology. It’s been a tough ride but DeFiHorse definitely enjoyed it, also, very proud of it too. Together with 500.000+ members, 40+ backers, and trusted partners who are always ready to support no matter what. This February, DeFiHorse successfully organized the INO event: 300 Heroic NFT Boxes with the price of 300.000 BUSD were sold out despite the current market. DeFiHorse is a horse racing Metaverse e-sports game built on Blockchain technology and NFTs. Players will be able to experience and enjoy horse racing on a whole new level when players enter DeFiHorse. The game provides  majestic legendary War Horses that players use to compete in infinite Cyberpunk horse races. The TAP TO EARN system of DeFiHorse allows users to directly interact with the game, improving the character’s experience. During the race, in addition to equipping items and breeding horses, players can interact with reality to help their steed outperform other competitors. There are also additional aspects in the game, such as the Horseverse, which lets users acquire land, buy stables, or choose and arrange their own horse races. Because this is a unique system that only DeFiHorse has, this game is projected to become the next big thing in the world of NFT horse racing games. To participate in buying IBCO DeFiHorse, investors just need to follow a few steps: Step 1: Access this website http://ibco.defihorse.com/ibco/Step 2: Connect your Metamask and deposit quantity BUSD investors want to participate buy sale token. 6,680,000 tokens waiting for you. Social Links: Telegram Global Community: https://t.me/DefiHorse_community Telegram News: https://t.me/DefiHorse_news Twitter: https://twitter.com/Defi_Horse Discord: https://discord.com/invite/DefiHorse Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefiHorse/ Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/DefiHorse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ar/713556950015542/ Medium: https://defihorse.medium.com/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@DefiHorse Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/defihorse Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/DeFiHorseOfficial/ Media Contact Brand: DefiHorse Contact: Lily, CMO Email: hello@DefiHorse.com Website: https://defihorse.com/ SOURCE: DefiHorse The article is provided by a third-party content provider. SEAPRWIRE makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith. Any questions, please contact cs@SEAPRWIRE.com Sectors: Top Story, Daily News SEAPRWIRE (www.seaprwire.com) offers newswire service in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines & Hong Kong )

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Season starts at Sebring for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing

TOKYO, Mar 8, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will defend its FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) titles with an updated GR010 HYBRID Hypercar, which begins with the 1000 Miles of Sebring in Florida next week where Fujitsu Limited and JFE Steel will join as partners.A successful debut season in 2021 saw the hybrid-powered, 700PS Hypercar win the Le Mans 24 Hours and both World Championships. It returns to action for the six-race 2022 WEC season with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing determined to retain those crowns.The 2022-specification GR010 HYBRID will utilise different tyre and wheel sizes compared to its predecessor. At the front, 12.5 x 18inch magnesium alloy RAYS wheels will hold 29/71-18 Michelin tyres while at the rear, 34/71-18 rubber is fitted to 14 x 18inch wheels.As a result of this change, small modifications were required to the bodywork to maintain air flow and stay within the aerodynamic performance window required by regulations, the most visible being the enlarged rear wind end plates and engine cover fin.While the GR010 HYBRID remains essentially unchanged under the bodywork, the settings of its 3.5litre engine have been adjusted to accommodate new 100% renewable fuel which is introduced to WEC for 2022. The fuel, made from wine residues and agricultural material, reduces CO2 emissions by at least 65% and contributes to ongoing efforts to increase sustainability in motorsport.As well as adjustments to the car for the new season, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing also benefits from a revised management structure. At Sebring, Kamui Kobayashi will participate in his first race in his new dual role, as Team Principal and driver of the #7 GR010 HYBRID, alongside fellow World Champions Mike Conway and Jose Maria Lopez.Kazuki Nakajima began his role of Vice Chairman at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Europe, the operational base of the WEC team, in January following his retirement as a race driver. He will support team operations at races, as well as mentoring Ryo Hirakawa who joins the #8 line-up of Sebastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley. Ryo, who competed in the LMP2 class at Le Mans in 2016 and 2017, is ready for his first WEC season following comprehensive preparations at tests and in the driving simulator.The team's challenge in WEC is enhanced this season by two new partners, Fujitsu and JFE Steel, whose logos will be prominently displayed on the GR010 HYBRID and driver overalls. TOYOTA GAZOO Racing welcomes Fujitsu and JFE Steel, and extends its sincere thanks to all partners whose loyalty is vital to its success in WEC.The 2022 season officially kicks off with a two-day Prologue test on 12-13 March, which represents the first time for the GR010 HYBRID to drive at the 6.019km Sebring International Raceway, the historic birthplace of American sportscar racing.Race week sees a true festival of endurance racing, when huge crowds gather at the former military airfield to enjoy an eight-hour WEC race on Friday evening, followed on Saturday by the 70th running of the legendary Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, part of the US-based IMSA series.TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's only previous visit to Sebring came in 2019, when a record crowd witnessed Sebastien, Kazuki and Fernando Alonso take victory, with Mike, Kamui and Jose completing a one-two for the TS050 HYBRID. The team targets a repeat of that result to make a perfect start to the 2022 season.For more information, visit https://toyotagazooracing.com/wec/release/2022/rd01-preview/. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Motul Announces Australian Supercars Partnership with Todd Hazelwood and Matt Stone Racing

- First collaboration for Motul in the Repco Supercars Championship- Motul lubricants to be used in the Matt Stone Racing Holden ZB Commodore- Todd Hazelwood aims to add to legendary racing success of MotulSingapore, Feb 16, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - A brand that has been synonymous with motorsport for more than a decade, Motul, is officially announcing itself as the official lubricant partner for Matt Stone Racing at the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship. Motul is proud to be partnering with the Gold Coast-based team that has proven itself to be a championship contender over the years. The team will use the iconic Motul 300V to power their #35 Holden ZB Commodore Supercar, driven by young Aussie Todd Hazelwood.Motul is a brand that is built upon the legacy of passion for motorsports, and their numerous wins across different racing categories around the world is a testament to the superiority of their products. Through this new partnership, Motul adds to its rich racing heritage by joining the iconic Australian touring car championship.Todd Hazelwood is a young and energetic racing driver that has proven his ability through his strong work ethic, showing his passion and dedication to the sport and those who support him. Motul will strengthen his pursuits out on track with their flagship oils and other essential lubricants for the duration of the 14-event season. It is important to keep the naturally aspirated V8 engine powerful and reliable over the course of the season which features a highly competitive mix of sprint and endurance events.Besides the action on track, Todd will also be incorporating Motul into elements of his life off the track - including his karting weekends and personal car restoration projects. Motul offers the same high-end products that deliver racing-grade performance in competiton, available for purchase to everyday road users. Motul continually works alongside racing teams and drivers to improve their products and provide the best product experience for their discerning customers.Matt Stone Racing and Todd Hazelwood kick-off their season campaign on March 4-6 at Sydney Motorsport Park.QUOTESTodd Hazelwood | Driver, #35 Matt Stone Racing Holden ZB Commodore Supercar"The team and I at Matt Stone Racing are both super excited and incredibly proud to introduce Motul as our official oil and lubricants partner whilst competing in the 2022 Supercars Championship. This partnership adds huge benefits to the team and we look forward to sharing success together this year. Motul has over 150 years of incredible history and huge success in Motorsport around the world. To be the very first Supercars driver representing the brand is a huge honour and I look forward to working with the whole Motul team throughout the year both on and off track."The Supercars Championship is separated by the smallest of margins and is well known as the toughest touring car championship in the world. Using the latest innovation and technology supplied by Motul is a huge asset for our Supercars program. When searching for the extra advantage over our competition, no doubt we will see an increase in peak performance and reliability when it comes to performing on track in 2022 thanks to Motul. Together, we aim to create our own piece of history together in Australia, adding to the Motul racing legacy."Carlo Savoca | Chief Marketing Officer, Motul Asia Pacific"Motul is delighted to be the official oil and lubricant partner for Todd and the Matt Stone Racing team. For over 150 years, Motul has been synonymous with motorsport excellence and we are excited to be associated with MSR, one of the strongest teams on the grid. We wish the best for Todd and the team for this upcoming season, and are confident that our flagship lubricant product, the 300V, will contribute to their performance and success in 2022."About MotulMotul is a world-class French company specialised in the formulation, production and distribution of high-tech engine lubricants (two-wheelers, cars and other vehicles) as well as lubricants for industry via its Motul Tech activity. Motul offers a whole range of products for everyday car use, including the 8100, H-tech, RBF series, ATF, CVTF and DCTF among others. Motul products ensure all parts of the car are kept in pristine condition to extract maximum performance and reliability.Unanimously recognised for more than 150 years for the quality of its products, innovation capacity and involvement in the field of competition, Motul is also recognised as a specialist in synthetic lubricants. As early as 1971, Motul was the first lubricant manufacturer to pioneer the formulation of a 100% synthetic lubricant, issued from the aeronautical industry, making use of esters technology: 300V lubricant. In 2021, Motul launched the newest iteration of the 300V with revolutionary technology, setting a new benchmark for high-performance lubricants.Motul is a partner to many manufacturers and racing teams in order to further their technological development in motorsports. It has invested in many international competitions as an official supplier for several championship winning racing teams.Motul is committed to its growing business presence in Asia Pacific. Over the years, the company has expanded operations significantly. Currently it has 3 major manufacturing facilities and 2 R&D centres across the region to cater to the ever-growing demand. These centres focus on refining the lubricant technology for Asian climate and driving conditions, which are vastly different from Europe.MOTUL Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd1A International Business Park, #06-03Singapore 609933www.motul.comFor more information, please contact Motul at pr@motul.com.sg Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Dakar Victory for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing as Al-attiyah/Baumel Take the Win

TOKYO, Jan 17, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel brought their GR DKR Hilux T1+ home safely on the final stage of the 2022 Dakar Rally to win the event overall by 27min 46sec. This is the Qatari driver's second victory for the team, having previously won the event in 2019. At the same time, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings won the closing stage of the rally, beating the opposition by 49sec.For Nasser and Mathieu, the final stage presented few real problems, despite challenging navigation. The pair had taken the lead in the rally during the opening stage of the event, and were never in danger of relinquishing that position. They won the prologue for the 2022 edition of the rally on January 1st, and powered to two more stage wins on their way to overall victory.This victory is significant for Nasser, as he has expressed the hope to win in the Arab world since the Dakar first moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020. He came agonisingly close in both 2020 and 2021, before securing his first win in Saudi Arabia in 2022. At the same time, the victory means a lot to the team who developed the new GR DKR Hilux T1+, which features larger wheels and tyres, more wheel travel, and the 3.5 litre twin-turbo V6 engine that also powers the new Toyota Land Cruiser GR Sport. Winning the race with a new car is testament of the team's ability to continuously push the limits of engineering, and build ever-better cars.The final stage was also a redemption for Henk and Brett, who sacrificed their own chances of a stage win when they selflessly waited for their leading teammates to pass them in Stage 11, in order to lend support if needed. But the pair decided to attack on Stage 12, despite starting the timed section well down the order. They brought their Hilux home in 1hr 35min 19sec, besting the competition despite having to stop mid-stage in order to change a punctured tyre.For Giniel de Villiers and co-driver Dennis Murphy, the 2022 edition of the world's toughest cross-country race brought many highs and lows. However, it was a broken oil pipe that put paid to their podium aspirations mid-race. Despite this, the South Africans soldiered on, winning one stage outright, and deservedly attaining a place in the Top 5. Their time in the closing stage was 5min 30sec behind that posted by Henk and Brett, but it was enough to secure 5th place in the overall standings.Dakar 2022 saw Shameer Variawa and co-driver Danie Stassen cement their in-car relationship, as they powered through some early-race jitters and bad luck, to record multiple solid stage results. By the time they completed the final stage, mid-way between the cities of Bisha and Jeddah, the pair had moved into 15th place overall. This was Shameer's second Dakar finish, and a maiden finish for his co-driver.Dakar 2022 was the 44th edition of the iconic event, which first took place in January 1978. The event took place in northern Africa until 2007, with the 2008 event cancelled due to a terrorist threat. The rally moved to South America in 2009, where it enjoyed a decade of spectacular scenery and tough terrain. In 2020, the first Saudi Arabian edition of the event took place, with the 2022 edition covering 4,261km of competitive stages.QUOTES:Glyn Hall, Team Principal: "What an epic victory for Nasser and Mathieu, and the entire team. To come to Dakar and win with our new GR DKR Hilux T1+ first time out is amazing. I'd like to dedicate this win to the memory of Dr. Johan van Zyl, who was a visionary leader and consistent supporter of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Dakar project over many years. We are extremely proud of what we achieved here this year, and I know the Doc would have been too."Nasser Al-Attiyah: "Such an amazing feeling to win Dakar! We lead right from the beginning, and managed to control the pace throughout the race, making it an amazing win. I'd like to thank TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and all our sponsors for the support. I'd also like to thank our Team Principal and Technical Manager, Glyn Hall, for building this fantastic new Hilux T1+. It was an amazing Dakar and I am extremely happy."Giniel de Villiers: "Yes, the last stage was actually very stressful, with many difficult navigation spots. Stephane (Peterhansel) caught up with us at one point, just as we found the way. Lucky for him, but we had to turn around a few times to find the route. So, complicated navigation even on the last stage. In the end, we finished in 5th overall, and while I'm a little disappointed not to be on the podium, I am really glad for Nasser and Mathieu. The car was really good, and the team did a great job preparing the car, and I'm really happy to be here at the end."Henk Lategan: "We've really had the full Dakar experience. The highest highs, winning a stage early on, to the lowest of lows, sitting until after dark in the desert. We were a little down last night, after the troubles we had in Stage 11, but this morning we woke up and just decided to give it a go in the last stage. We had to overtake quite a lot of cars, and unfortunately, we got a puncture at one point. We thought that was the end of our chances for a second stage win, but we carried on pushing really hard to the end, and we pulled off one last stage win."Shameer Variawa: "It's great to be here, as we had a bit of nerves at the start of the stage. But we made it to the end, and I'm happy to complete my second Dakar; Danie's first. I'm totally ecstatic, and we'll be back next year."Stage 12 Results:1. Lategan (ZAF) / Cummings (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 1hr 35min 19sec2. Peterhansel (FRA) / Noulanger (FRA) Team Audi Sport +49sec3. Baragwanath (ZAF) / Cremer (ZAF) Century Racing +1min 51sec4. Loeb (FRA) / Lurquin (BEL) Bahrain Raid Xtreme +2min 20sec5. Zala (LTU) / Fiuza (PRT) Teltonika Racing +3min 25sec12. De Villiers (ZAF) / Murphy (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +5min 30sec19. Al-Attiyah (QAT) / Baumel (AND) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +7min 53sec31. Variawa (ZAF) / Stassen (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +11min 50secRankings after Stage 12:1. Al-Attiyah (QAT) / Baumel (AND) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 38hr 33min 3sec2. Loeb (FRA) / Lurquin (BEL) Bahrain Raid Xtreme +27min 46sec3. Al Rajhi (SAU) / Orr (GBR) Overdrive Toyota +1hr 1min 13sec4. Terranova (ARG) / Carreras (ESP) Bahrain Raid Xtreme +1hr 27min 23sec5. De Villiers (ZAF) / Murphy (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +1hr 41min 48sec15. Variawa (ZAF) / Stassen (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +3hr 55min 33sec31. Lategan (ZAF) / Cummings (ZAF) TOYOTA GAZOO Racing +11hr 51min 21sec Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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