Benediktas Vanagas has listed his previous Dakar Rally Toyota Hilux for sale for slightly over 500,000 euros while officially unveiling the brand-new Gurtam GAZOO Racing Baltics team for the upcoming January 2027 race.
The team presentation, held in Vilnius on November 9, introduced the new factory-spec machinery and a route that returns the Dakar Rally to Africa.
Vanagas Debuts New Toyota DKR GR Hilux Chassis 007
For his 15th Dakar, Vanagas is stepping into the most competitive Ultimate category with a latest-specification Toyota DKR GR Hilux powered by a 3.5-liter V6 twin-turbo gasoline engine. The vehicle has been reserved with chassis frame number 007.
Fully created by Overdrive engineers Christian Loriaux and Glyn Hall, the new model features a tubular frame that provides greater torsional rigidity, reduced weight, and improved service accessibility, alongside a reinforced transmission built to withstand extreme loads.
Alongside the technical upgrade, the team announced a change in its naming structure, dropping the Toyota designation to become Gurtam Gazoo Racing Baltics. Vanagas first started driving his previous Hilux in the 2023 Dakar, and factory GAZOO Racing teams will pilot identical generations of the vehicle.
Return to Africa and Route Details
The 2027 Dakar Rally moves to Portugal and Morocco as the event returns to Africa. The 49th edition runs from January 9 to January 23, opening with a 29 km prologue in the Algarve region on January 9 and a subsequent 100 km special stage. Competitors will then board a ship to Africa for the remaining eleven stages.
The African leg will feature dunes, stony tracks, difficult route-finding, and a two-day marathon stage without routine technical assistance. The total route will span approximately 7,824 km, with about 4,741 km consisting of special stages, culminating in a finish in Marrakech.
Crew Remains Unchanged Despite Vehicle and Team Updates
Despite the changes in continent, vehicle, and team name, the crew composition remains unchanged, with Aisvydas Paliukėnas returning as Vanagas’s co-driver. Vanagas previously achieved the highest Baltic states result in the Ultimate category by securing eighth place.
The team presentation gathered more than 100 invited guests, including media, partners, and representatives of the motorsport community, as Vanagas prepares for his third different continent in the rally’s history.
