The Qatari driver finished runner-up in both the 2020 and ’21 editions of Dakar, losing out on both occasions to the Mini JCW buggies amid an apparent performance gap between performance of two-wheel drive cars and 4×4 vehicles such as the Hilux fielded by Toyota.
But event organiser ASO has revamped the regulations for Dakar in 2022, providing a level playing field between all types of cars while also offering manufacturers a clean slate.
Al-Attiyah has also been boosted by a strong run of form in 2021, which included victories in Andalusia, Morocco, Abu Dhabi and Ha’il en route to the FIA Cross-Countries Rallies World Cup title.
Asked about his prospects for the 44th edition of the Dakar, the 51-year-old was upbeat about his chances of scoring a first win since the rally moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020 – and his second for the Toyota marque.
“We are quite happy to be here in Dakar now, the third Dakar in Saudi Arabia,” he told Autosport.
“I’m quite happy also with the…
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