TOYOTA

 Denis Krotov heads to Dakar 2023 hoping to upset a few of the more fancied contenders in the cars. The 45-year-old has been competing offroad for many years and is now a familiar face on the rally-raid scene, having taken part in various FIA World Cups and the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Somewhat surprisingly, he took his best Dakar result on his 2019 debut, finishing as the top rookie in 15th overall. He then came 17th in 2020, before dropping to 30th and 28th in the next two editions due to mechanical issues and misfortune. Since 2022 Denis has been relying on the navigational skills of experienced co-driver Konstantin Zhiltsov, who has been doing the Dakar since the Africa days and finished on the podium in 2013. The pair haven’t quite lived up to their potential just yet, but for their third Dakar together they will be competing with a new car and team. Having spent his entire driving career with X-raid in a BMW or a Mini, Denis decided to mix things up after this year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, getting behind the wheel of an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux. So far, the results speak for themselves; he and Konstantin came second at the Qatar International Baja, took top-five finishes at the Sonora Rally and Desafio Ruta 40, and then roared to a highly impressive second place at the notoriously tough Rallye du Maroc. The latter was their best showing to date on the W2RC, and hints at their potential for a top-10 finish at the Dakar. Denis certainly hopes to be fighting with the top crews as he gears up for what he describes as rally-raid's answer to the Olympics.