Giniel de Villiers has completed nearly two dozen Dakar Rally events. The Capetonian started competing in 2003 with Nissan and moved on to the works Volkswagen Motorsport effort. In 2009, he claimed the German outfit’s first win. He was an integral part of the team and helped team-mates to two successive wins after his own. When VW exited this form of motorsport to concentrate on the World Rally Championship, the Capetonian driver moved to the South African-run Toyota effort, where he has been since.
De Villiers has an enviable career in the world’s most grueling race, which makes it easy to forget his four touring car titles and numerous other circuit racing achievements. Here we take a look back at his Dakar career to date in images from the famous off-road race. Click here to read about the special bonus the VW Group arrange for winning the 2009 Dakar Rally.
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Exclusive images from the Michael Schumacher Museum.
Iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans winners, Part 1 and Part 2.
Italian concept cars Part 1 and Part 2.
Lamborghini Museum.
In his earlier days at Nissan driving a locally built Navara.
VW dominated the Dakar for three consecutive years with De Villiers winning the 2009 race.
The co-pilot’s body language says it all.
The early Toyota years.
Bashing his way through South America.
Cleared for take-off.
In the 2019 race.
Moments before setting off on a stage.
More recent forays in Saudi Arabia
Flying high in the Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux.
Taming the dunes.
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