- The Repsol Toyota Rally Team driver finished the event in a commendable 19th position in the Ultimate category and 26th overall.
- The final round of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) provided Isidre Esteve and co-driver Txema Villalobos with an invaluable test under conditions very similar to those they will face in the upcoming Dakar Rally 2026.
- “It was a very complete rally. We were able to drive well, without any major incidents. Morocco is a fantastic training ground, and we’re heading into January’s big event in great shape.”
The Rallye du Maroc brought the curtain down on the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship and also marked the final stage of preparation for the Repsol Toyota Rally Team before Dakar. Esteve and Villalobos completed nearly 2,300 kilometres — including 1,478 timed kilometres — over six demanding days aboard their Toyota Hilux T1+, powered by the renewable fuel developed at the Repsol Technology Lab.
The fifth and final stage, consisting of 216 km of timed special plus a 31 km Power Selective Section, was both fast and demanding, featuring broken terrain that tested both the crew’s endurance and the car’s mechanics. The Spanish duo’s pace was affected by a change made to the Hilux’s differentials the day before, which did not yield the desired results but provided valuable data for Dakar preparation.
“The special was quite demanding, both in terms of driving and navigation. Yesterday we made some changes to the differentials for testing purposes, but they didn’t work as expected and that affected us throughout the day. Still, it was important to test today — we couldn’t enjoy the stage as much, but it was a good learning opportunity,” explained Esteve.
In the final section — a particularly challenging one in terms of navigation — Esteve and Villalobos incurred a 15-minute penalty for missing a waypoint, finishing the day 28th in the Ultimate class and 48th overall.
Once again, the Rallye du Maroc proved to be an excellent benchmark before Dakar, with a top-level field and an extremely demanding route combining technical stages, dune crossings, and fast tracks where pace management and vehicle reliability were crucial.
The team’s overall assessment is positive: aside from a mechanical issue in the second stage and some dust-related difficulties due to starting position, Isidre Esteve maximised the rally’s potential, gaining both mileage and confidence.
“It was a very complete rally. We were able to drive well, without major issues. Morocco is the best possible test for Dakar, and both this rally and the Rally Raid Portugal, which we raced at the end of September, have been fantastic training. The team has done a great job, and we’re heading into January’s big event in top form.”
With the conclusion of the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, the Repsol Toyota Rally Team now focuses entirely on the challenges ahead. Supported by Repsol, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Spain, MGS Seguros, and KH-7, Isidre Esteve will debut his new Toyota Hilux EVO T1+ in Saudi Arabia — a major step forward that will allow him to continue progressing in the Ultimate category.
“I’m very excited about the new car. I hope to test it in the coming days and start planning the next race as soon as possible. Now it’s time to get behind the wheel of the new Hilux, fine-tune it, and face the toughest race in the world with enthusiasm,” concluded the Catalan driver.
Source: Repsol Toyota Rally Team
Translation and adaptation Rally-Raid Network
