TEAM LAND CRUISER

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  • 2026
  • 2025
  • 2024
New Rally Vehicles Undergo Development Testing Ahead of the 2027 Dakar Rally

TLC continues to advance vehicle development and team strengthening through development testing. This time, testing was conducted through participation in Baja Morocco 2026 and Rally of Morocco 2026, using the Land Cruiser Stock Class vehicles currently under development for the 2027 Dakar Rally.

Issue #20: October 16, 2026
Driver Lineup Announced for the Rally of Morocco 2026

TLC will compete as a two-car team in the Rally of Morocco 2026, which is to be held from Monday, September 28 to Saturday, October 3.

Issue #19: September 28, 2026
Rally Vehicle Development Testing and Competitive Evaluation Ahead of Dakar Rally 2027

TLC will be conducting vehicle development testing in Morocco, Africa, from Monday, September 14, in order to verify the reliability, off-road performance, and durability of the Land Cruiser Stock Class vehicles being developed for the 2027 Dakar Rally. Morocco was selected because its terrain and environment closely resemble those encountered in the Dakar Rally.

Issue #18: September 8, 2026
Accelerating “Making Ever-Better Rally Vehicles” in Pursuit of Reclaiming the Dakar Rally Stock Class Title

TLC is continuing its efforts to build an ever-better rally vehicles for the 2027 Dakar Rally, with the goal of reclaiming the top position in the Stock class.

Issue #17: July 24, 2026
Dakar Rally 2027 Rally Outline Announced

On May 5, 2026 (local time), the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.), organizer of the Dakar Rally, announced the outline for the 49th edition of the Dakar Rally, which is set to take place in 2027.

Issue #16: May 8, 2026
Arriving at the Finish in Yanbu After Overcoming Troubles
First Year of the Stock Class Cleared with Car #503 in 3rd and Car #501 in 5th

January 17 marked the final day of Dakar Rally 2026. The final day of competition was held in Yanbu on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, concluding with the finish‑podium ceremony and bringing this year’s entire rally to a close.

Issue #15: January 18, 2026
Both Cars Arrive in Yanbu After 311 km SS to the Rally’s Finish Location
Day Retirement for Car #501 After Engine Oil System Trouble
More Steering Issues for Car #503

On January 16, the 2026 Dakar Rally continued with a 311 km SS (special stage) running from Al Henakiyah in western Saudi Arabia to Yanbu.

Issue #14: January 17, 2026
Dusty High‑Speed Course Cleared in 4th and 5th
Car #501 Supports #503 Through the Stage

The 2026 Dakar Rally has now entered its final stretch. On January 15, Stage 11 took competitors north from Bisha in southwestern Saudi Arabia to Al Henakiyah in the central-west region, covering 346 km of competition.

Issue #13: January 16, 2026
Relentless Dunes in a Major Stage of the Rally
Challenging Stage Cleared: Car #503 in 4th, #501 in 5th

The second day of the Marathon Stage took competitors from the basic bivouac “REFUGE,” located north of Bisha, to Bisha.

Issue #12: January 15, 2026
Day 1 of Marathon Stage in Second Half Completed in 3rd and 4th in Class

On January 13, the second half of the 2026 Dakar Rally entered Day 1 of the Marathon Stage, with 410 km of competition held in the northwestern region of Wadi ad‑Dawasir.

Issue #11: January 14, 2026
Finishing 3rd and 4th in Class on a Long SS of Dunes and Off‑Road
Car #501 Supports #503 Throughout the Stage

The second half of Dakar Rally 2026 shifted to the vast desert region of southwestern Saudi Arabia. On January 12, Stage 8 featured a 483 km SS (competition section) on a loop course starting and ending at Wadi ad‑Dawasir.

Issue #10: January 13, 2026
Second Half of the 2026 Dakar Rally Begins
Arriving in Wadi Ad‑Dawasir in 4th and 5th in Class

On January 11, the 2026 Dakar Rally entered its second half with a 459 km SS set between Riyadh and Wadi ad‑Dawasir in Saudi Arabia.

Issue #09: January 12, 2026
Stock Class: Standing 3rd and 5th at the Halfway Mark
Full Vehicle Refresh on Rest Day in Riyadh

On January 10, the 2026 Dakar Rally reached Rest Day in Riyadh, the capital in central Saudi Arabia.

Issue #08: January 11, 2026
Overcoming Troubles & Clearing the Dune Stage
Reaching Riyadh Concludes the First Half of the Rally

Stage 6 on January 9 marked the final day of the first half of the rally. Competitors tackled a 326 km SS (competition section) running southeast from Ha’il in northern Saudi Arabia to the capital city of Riyadh.

Issue #07: January 10, 2026
Car #501 Retires for the Day After Drivetrain Trouble
Car #503 Clears the Finish but Drops to 3rd in Class in Cumulative Rankings

Stage 5 on January 8 marked Day 2 of the Marathon Stage in the first half of the Dakar. Competitors tackled a 371 km SS (competition section) running from the dedicated “REFUGE” marathon bivouac northeast of AlUla to the city of Ha’il in northern Saudi Arabia.

Issue #06: January 9, 2026
Car #501, Delayed by Yesterday’s Trouble, Restored and Running Strong
Both Cars Clear Day 1 of the Marathon Stage Trouble-Free

After suffering drivetrain trouble and stopping during yesterday’s competition, car #501, driven by Akira Miura with navigator Jean‑Michel Polato, managed to resume running with support from the assistance truck that caught up from behind.

Issue #05: January 8, 2026
Drivetrain Trouble Delays Car #501
Car #503 on Steady 2nd Place Run in Class

Stage 3 on January 6 was a loop course from AlUla. A 421 km SS (competition section) was held in the mountainous area north of the bivouac.

Issue #04: January 7, 2026
Car #501 Experiences Trouble with Brake Assist Mechanism
Team Overcomes Issues & Clears Canyon Stage

The 2026 Dakar Rally left the starting location of Yanbu and headed inland toward AlUla. A 400 km SS (competition section) was held in the mountainous region.

Issue #03: January 6, 2026
Stage 1 on the Yanbu Loop Course
Strong Start with Basso/Menard 2nd in Class, Miura/Polato Close Behind in 3rd

On January 4, the 2026 Dakar Rally moved into full-scale competition mode. The day’s stage featured a 305 km competition on a loop course from Yanbu, a coastal city on the Red Sea.

Issue #02: January 6, 2026
Solid Run for Both TLC Cars in the Prologue
The Team Fully Prepares for Tomorrow’s Stage 1

The 2026 Dakar Rally kicked off on January 3 with a 22 km prologue run through the hills near the start at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. TLC is competing in the Stock category (formerly Production Car) with two new Land Cruiser rally vehicles.

Issue #01: January 5, 2026
Driver Akira Miura Embarks on His Next Stage

TLC driver Akira Miura (General Affairs Division, Public Relations Department, Toyota Auto Body Corporation) will complete his journey with TLC following the upcoming 2026 Dakar Rally and embark on a new stage in his career.

Issue #22: December 19, 2025
Toyota Auto Body to Compete in “Dakar Rally 2026”— Aiming for a 13th Victory with the Land Cruiser —

A participant announcement event was held on Monday, December 1, 2025, at the Sanage Adventure Field in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, where TLC outlined its participation plans for the 2026 Dakar Rally.

Issue #21: December 1, 2025
Development Testing the New Rally Car for Dakar Rally 2026

TLC performed development and real-world testing of its new rally car from September 16 to October 17, driving approximately 4,000 km in Baja Morocco 2025 and Morocco Rally 2025. The tests were conducted to align with the new Stock Category regulations that will come into effect from Dakar Rally 2026.

Issue #20: October 29, 2025
Dakar 2026 New Rally Car Development
Enters Key Stages with Real-World Rally Testing

TLC will conduct development and real-world testing of its Dakar Rally 2026-spec rally car from Tuesday, September 16 to Friday, October 17, 2025.

Issue #19: September 12, 2025
Rally Car Driving Test in Morocco
Steady Progress for Cars and Team

From May 24 to 31, 2025, TLC conducted rally car development testing in Morocco, located on the African continent, in preparation for the 2026 Dakar Rally.

Issue #18: June 19, 2025
Dakar Rally 2026 Rally Outline Announced

On Saturday, June 7, 2025 local time, the outline for the next edition of the Dakar Rally 2026 was announced by the organizers of the Dakar Rally, the A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation).

Issue #17: June 11, 2025
2026 Dakar Rally Prep: Development Testing New-Regulation Vehicles in Morocco

TLC is set to conduct a test run in Morocco on the African continent for about two weeks starting from the end of May with a rally car that has been developed based on the new Stock Class (Production Car category) regulations that will be in effect starting with the 2026 Dakar Rally.

Issue #16: May 20, 2025
2025 Activities Commence in Preparation for the 2026 Dakar Rally

TLC will commence full-scale activities in 2025 in preparation for the 2026 Dakar Rally.

Issue #15: April 7, 2025
Both Cars Reach Shubaytah Finish Line
Celebrating a 12th consecutive victory in the Production Car category with a one-two finish

For the final day of the 2025 Dakar Rally, Stage 12 of the rally was held on January 17th in Shubaytah, southeastern Saudi Arabia.

Issue #14: January 18, 2025
The Final Hurdle: Car #500 Clears Dunes at Shubaytah
Big delays for car #501 in the second half

On this day, the Stage 11 loop starting from Shubaytah featured full-fledged dunes.

Issue #13: January 17, 2025
Smooth Run for Car #500 on Day 1 of a 3-Day Series of Dune Stages
Car #501 suffers unfortunate drivetrain trouble and falls behind

The Dakar Rally 2025 is now in its final stages. On the 15th, Stage 10 was held between Haradh and Shubaytah, marking the start of the stages in the "Empty Quarter," the most challenging area which features a relentless series of highly complex dunes.

Issue #12: January 16, 2025
Both Cars Overcome Rough Terrain on Mountain Course
Cars #501 & #500 safely finish despite puncturing 2 and 4 tires, respectively.

On January 14th, the Stage 9 course was held in the mountainous area from Riyadh to Haradh, covering a competition section of 357 km.

Issue #11: January 15, 2025
Car #501 Delayed by Driveshaft Trouble but Arrives Safely in Riyadh
Holding one-two position in Production Car category with car #500 leading

On the 13th, Stage 8 was held between Al Duwadimi and the capital, Riyadh, with a 488 km SS (Special Stage) forming a large loop to the south side of the east-facing service route.

Issue #10: January 14, 2025
Both Cars Clear the 419 km Loop Course
Car #501 stuck on a rock early in the stage; body unaffected

Stage 7 on January 12th was a loop course in the southwest of Al Duwadimi, with a 419 km SS.

Issue #09: January 13, 2025
Cars Maintain One-Two Position in Production Category Despite Trouble
Car #500 faces drivetrain issues while car #501 encounters control system trouble

The first day of the second half of the race saw the competitors travel southeast from Ha'il to Al Duwadimi, covering a 605 km SS.

Issue #08: January 12, 2025
First Half Complete: Maintaining a One-Two Position in the Production Car (Stock) Category
Cars and drivers refresh in Ha'il on Rest Day as they gear up for the second half

On January 10th, in the Saudi Arabian city of Ha’il, it was Rest Day for the 2025 Dakar Rally.

Issue #07: January 12, 2025
Second Half of the Marathon Stage Completed Without Major Issues
Maintaining a one-two position in the Production Car category after the first half of Dakar

At the 2025 Dakar Rally, a 428 km competition section took place on January 9th between AlUla and Ha'il, taking teams to the mountainous region of northern Saudi Arabia.

Issue #06: January 10, 2025
One Puncture for Car #501 & Two for Car #500 on the Rocky Terrain
Both cars safely complete first half of the marathon

On the 8th, Stage 4 of the 2025 Dakar Rally from Al Henakiyah to AlUla was held.

Issue #05: January 9, 2025
Smooth Run for Car #500 After Issues Resolved
Car #501 finishes safely despite three punctures in the beginning

On the 7th, the Stage 3 route took competitors north from Bisha to Al Henakiyah in the northwest.

Issue #04: January 8, 2025
Both Cars Successfully Clear the Challenging 48H CHRONO STAGE
Car #501 assists car #500 with electrical issues to reach the finish

The grueling 48H CHRONO STAGE of the 2025 Dakar Rally took place over two days, January 5th and 6th, covering a 967 km SS (Special Stage) on a loop course starting in the mountainous region of southwestern Saudi Arabia in Bisha.

Issue #03: January 7, 2025
Full-Scale Competition of the Dakar Rally 2025 Begins
Both cars are off to a smooth start

On January 4th, the 2025 Dakar Rally commenced its first stage on a 413 km loop course set west of Bisha for the start of the full-scale competition.

Issue #02: January 5, 2025
Smooth Driving for Both Cars in the 29 km Prologue Run
All preparations are complete for the start of the full-scale rally

The Dakar Rally 2025 kicked off on January 3 with a prologue run near Bisha, a town in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Issue #01: January 5, 2025
Dakar Rally 2025 Course Outline Announced

On November 28, 2024, the organizers of the Dakar Rally, A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation), announced the 2025 Dakar Rally outline and route information.

Issue #21: December 2, 2024
Covering approximately 8,000 km of uncharted land to strengthen the Land Cruiser
TEAM LAND CRUISER TOYOTA AUTO BODY to participate in the 2025 Dakar Rally

A rally participation announcement event was held at the Sanage Adventure Field in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, where TLC outlined the rally participation details for the 2025 Dakar Rally.

Issue #20: October 23, 2024
Participation in the Rally of Morocco 2024 as the final test for the 2025 Dakar Rally
The team and cars are ready for the rally

TLC participated in the final round of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, at the Rally of Morocco 2024, held in Morocco from October 4 to October 11, 2024, with two rally cars based on the Land Cruiser 300 GR SPORT.

Issue #19: October 18, 2024
Final test for Dakar Rally 2025 held in Morocco
Competing in the Rally of Morocco 2024

TLC will participate in the Rally of Morocco 2024 in Morocco from Friday, October 4, 2024, to Friday, October 11, 2024. Here, they will conduct the final test for the 2025 Dakar Rally.

Issue #18: September 27, 2024
Rally car development test in Morocco
Strong confidence in the car’s readiness

For approximately two weeks between June 17-28, 2024, TLC conducted rally car development testing for the Dakar Rally 2025 in Morocco on the African continent.

Issue #17: July 3, 2024
Test run in Morocco on the African continent for Dakar Rally 2025

In preparation for Dakar Rally 2025, TLC will be conducting rally car development testing in Morocco on the African continent for approximately two weeks starting in mid-June.

Issue #16: June 10, 2024
Outline Announced for Dakar Rally 2025

The organizers of the Dakar Rally, Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.), announced the outline for the upcoming Dakar Rally 2025 on Saturday, May 18, 2024, local time.

Issue #15: May 22, 2024
Land Cruiser 300 rally cars complete Dakar Rally 2024
One-two finish for 11th consecutive victory in Production Car category

On January 19, the final stage of the 2024 Dakar Rally was held on a 174 km loop course SS from Yanbu in Saudi Arabia.

Issue #14: January 20, 2024
Challenge in second half: Evading rocks in endless psychological battle
Car #501 rear-ended but unharmed

On January 18, Stage 11 of the 2024 Dakar Rally was held between AlUla and Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. With the finish line of the rally coming up on January 19, this will be last long SS.

Issue #13: January 20, 2024
Both cars clear mountainous loop stage with no trouble
Car #501 finishes with no punctures

On January 17, Stage 10 of the rally was held in northwestern Saudi Arabia in hilly terrain on a loop course starting in AlUla.

Issue #12: January 19, 2024
Trouble free run through a mountainous stage
Both cars follow each other to evade risks

On January 16, Stage 9 of the 2024 Dakar Rally was held between Ha’il and AlUla in Saudi Arabia on mountainous terrain.

Issue #11: January 18, 2024
Heading north across mountainous terrain for the second day of the second half
Car #500 assists Car #501 with problems and they reach the finish

On January 15, the 8th stage of the Dakar Rally 2024 was held between Al Duwadimi and Ha’il. The route headed towards the mountainous terrain up north where the surface of the SS (competition section) changed from sand to gravel and rocks.

Issue #10: January 17, 2024
Eventful first day to start off the second half of the rally
Reaching the finish following recovery after getting stuck and going off course

On January 14, the second half of the Dakar Rally 2024 started. The 483 km race was held between Riyadh and Al Duwadimi in Saudi Arabia.

Issue #09: January 16, 2024
End of the first half in a one-two formation in the Stock category
Rest Day in Riyadh and getting ready for the second half

For the Dakar Rally 2024, it is Rest Day on January 13 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

Issue #08: January 15, 2024
Ultimate challenge: Car #500 finishes 1st in “THE 48H CHRONO STAGE” in the Stock (Production Car) category while Car #501 continues to compete

From January 11 to 12, the Dakar Rally 2024 proceeded with a new undertaking called “THE 48H CHRONO STAGE” near Shubaytah in southeastern Saudi Arabia. Running over two days with a 547 km SS set in the Rub' al Khali Desert known as the "Empty Quarter", most of the road surface is soft sand.

Issue #07: January 14, 2024
First day in the challenging Empty Quarter stage
Car #501 delayed after unfortunate bogging but both cars arrived safely

On January 10, the 2024 Dakar Rally took competitors to the Rub' al Khali Desert in southern Saudi Arabia where a 118 km competition section was held around Shubaytah in the eastern end of the desert.

Issue #06: January 12, 2024
Car #500 safely finishes the stage despite trouble with the steering system
Car #501 makes it to Al-Hofuf by a narrow margin after suspension damage

On January 9, the fourth stage took teams from Al Salamiya to Al-Hofuf in the east. For the second day of the semi-marathon stage, it was a 299 km competition section.

Issue #05: January 11, 2024
First day of the semi marathon safely cleared with no major damage
Both cars make it through without punctures or getting stuck

On January 8, the third stage of the 2024 Dakar Rally was held between Al Duwadimi and Al Salamiya in Saudi Arabia.

Issue #04: January 10, 2024
A long 460 km stage with challenging navigation and sandy conditions
Solid run leads to a smooth one-two formation in the Stock category

The second stage took the teams from Al Henakiyah to Al Duwadimi on a long 462 km SS in the hilly terrain of central Saudi Arabia which featured sand dunes and hilly sections where high-speed driving is possible.

Issue #03: January 9, 2024
Both cars clear a tough stage on day 1
A smooth start without major issues

On January 6, the real competition for the 2024 Dakar 2024 began. The first stage took place between AlUla and Al Henakiyah in the northwest of Saudi Arabia.

Issue #02: January 8, 2024
Both cars make a solid finish in the prologue run
Everything is lined up for the start of the real competition

On January 5, a 27km prologue run was held for the 2024 Dakar Rally near AlUla, a town in northwestern Saudi Arabia.

Issue #01: January 7, 2024