No time to sit - Toyota Gazoo Racing used the rest day to prepare for Dakar's final stint

The rest day, also marking the halfway point of the 2023 Dakar Rally, could not have come at a better time for teams and crews still competing in this year's race. The opening week was immensely challenging, but those who survived can sigh with relief, having made it this far.

The 2023 edition of the world's toughest race is not for the faint-hearted.

While challenging, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) could not have asked for a better opening week. Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel lead the race by 1hr 3min 46sec, while teammates Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, both from South Africa, are second.

The team has done a tremendous job preparing for the race. Yet, while rest is needed, activity will not stop.

"The Rest Day is, in fact, a day of frantic activity in the bivouac," said Glyn Hall, TGR Dakar Team Principal.

"For us, it is critical to do all the maintenance needed to ensure that the cars are in the best possible shape for the final six stages. Bear in mind that this is still more stages than any of the other W2RC rounds, and we simply cannot afford any mistakes."

TGRSA also received a special visit from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The man responsible for global motorsport under the FIA banner spent time with TGRSA's drivers and co-drivers at the bivouac in Riyadh.

Racing resumes on Tuesday (10 January) with Stage 9 as crews depart Riyadh for Haradh, via a special stage of 359km.