Toyota seize power to end 19-year Dakar wait

Toyota delivered an astonishing performance on the second day of the Dakar Rally to end a 19-year wait.

For the first time since Volkswagen in 2007, the Japanese manufacturer locked out the top five positions, with American Seth Quintero leading the way on the 400-kilometre stage to AlUla dominated by gravel roads.

It was a stunning riposte from Toyota following a disappointing first day in which it only had two cars in the top 10. Quintero's triumph, in a time of three hours 57 minutes and 16 seconds, was also a first for Toyota's Hilux.

Quintero was followed across the line by Henk Lategan in his Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC machine, with the South African finishing 14 seconds ahead of last year's winner, Yazeed Al Rajhi.

Another Toyota driver, Saood Variawa, led for the first 100 kilometres but was eventually reeled in and came home 10th as Toby Price and Joao Ferreira went on to complete the top-five lock-out.

The leading non-Toyota was that of Simon Vitse in the two-wheel drive Optimus Chevvy. He beat fellow Frenchman and nine-time WRC champion Sébastien Loeb into seventh.

Loeb finished 24 seconds ahead of Dacia team-mate Nasser Al-Attiyah, who has now taken the overall lead by seven seconds from Quintero.

The top six, which also includes stage one winner Guillaume de Mévius, Lategan, Loeb and Ferreira, are covered by just two minutes.

View the overall standings below!