Great start from Repsol Toyota in the preparation for Dakar 2025: Isidre Esteve confirms the good sensations in Portugal

Isidre Esteve has had a great start in his preparation for the 2025 Dakar Rally, which has also served as a test bench for Repsol's renewable fuels and lubricants. Repsol Toyota Rally Team's Spanish driver, alongside his co-driver Txema Villalobos, has completed the Rally Raid Portugal finishing 9th in the Ultimate category, the category that brings together the best international rally raid drivers.

It was the third round in the Fia World Championship, which took place over five days in which the physical and technical skills of the different teams were put to the test. The changing conditions of the Portuguese tracks, affected by the recent rain, also posed a challenge for the drivers. Especially for those who drove 4x4 vehicles such as Esteve's Toyota Hilux T1+. 

Despite that, Esteve managed an outstanding performance, finishing ninth in the Ultimate category, one hour and one minute behind the winner. 

"We had a good pace during the entire race, we took risks where we thought we could, but we always held back a little because it was key to get to the end of a part. It's our first preparation race for Dakar 2025, and in the end we also got a great result, so we are leaving very happy," the driver explained after getting out the car.

The other lesson from the Portuguese round

The Rally Raid Portugal has also served as a test bench for Repsol's latest-generation lubricants and renewable fuel. In this way, our Tech Lab colleagues have made the most of this competitive environment to collect data on the terrain, something that will be key to continue improving their performance.

The next date for Isidre Esteve and Txema Villalobos will be the Rallye du Maroc, which will take place between October 7 and 11, so it will be the last round in the 2024 World Rally-Raid Championship. The V6-engine version of the Toyota Hilux T1+ is scheduled to debut there. Let's go, team!