Al-Rajhi: "With Toyota I aim for the podium of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Then the encore at the Dakar"

The victory of the Dakar 2025 has given even more motivation to Yazeed Al - Rajhi . The goal is to repeat and the Saudi is ready to return to the Toyota Hilux of the Overdrive Racing team for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge , the second stage of the Fia World Rally - Raid Championship (W2RC). The challenge promises to be a two-man affair: Yazeed, paired with navigator Timo Gottschalk, against Nasser Al - Attiyah , winner of this event four times and big favorite on the eve, also in the face of an evident determination to want to redeem the podium lost in the Dakar by a handful of minutes. We spoke to Yazeed Al - Rahji who is enjoying his increased popularity.

Did he have the chance to achieve the victory?

"We certainly celebrated with the whole team and then we dedicated ourselves to planning the season, starting right from here."

How was the success received in Saudi Arabia?

"It was a great event, capable of arousing a lot of interest. We certainly paved the way. Now many compatriots are starting to think about participating, even though we know that it is a very demanding test".

The second round of the championship, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is a 1,900km long race in the dunes, a terrain familiar to her.

"I actually confess that I enjoy the rocky passages and fast tracks much more. But of course the Empty Quarter desert is a bit like my backyard. Last year we came close to winning the Addc, but then we had a suspension problem and had to abandon the race. The goal now is to do well."

Has winning the Dakar changed anything in your approach to racing?

"We want to repeat ourselves. We are running with this dream and thanks also to the experience gained, we are preparing to win again in 2026".

"Consistency pays off in rally raids so we don't want to take too many risks. We're leading the championship and we don't want to lose everything. We have to drive a smart race, which means you don't necessarily have to win. We want to score as many points as possible."

What kind of race do you expect?

"Many riders will want to attack, we want to sit back and see what happens, we're aiming for the podium. We'll evaluate from time to time when to push and when to be more conservative."

The latest generation Toyota Hilux V6 T1 Evo gets a thumbs up, especially after the switch from a naturally aspirated V8 to a more efficient 3.5 V6 twin-turbo.

"It's a very robust and competitive car. We've seen it over the years. Of course, with the very strict regulations, the level of the cars is similar, we also have to work on the chassis and suspension and then obviously the work of the driver and navigator."

At the Dakar Toyota dominated, and also the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge started with Moraes' Gr Dkr Hilux in front of everyone. What is the secret of this model?

"A competitive car, the work of the team and us drivers who continue to make the difference."