TOYOTA

 H.L.

• Henk grew up in motor racing. At 15, he took part in his first regional event as co-driver for his father Hein. Less than a decade later, he became the youngest driver to win the South African off-road rally championship.
• His career also led him to cross paths with his idol Sébastien Loeb at the Monte Carlo Rally. Henk did not know then that he would meet the Frenchman again at the Dakar Rally. At the time, the young Henk was only competing in traditional rallies behind the wheel of a Skoda.
• Henk Lategan has had a challenging journey on the Dakar rally. His 2021 debut ended with a serious shoulder injury on day five. A year later, despite two stage victories, Lategan struggled to settle for 31st place. Plagued by numerous navigation errors, mechanical problems, and a rollover, the South African was too inconsistent.
• The 2023 edition went more smoothly, as he finally finished in an awe-inspiring 5th place.
• After withdrawing from the 2024 edition due to a shoulder injury, the South African returned full of enthusiasm, showing the world that he had the potential to win the rally by finishing second behind Yazeed Al Rajhi.
• The 30-year-old Johannesburg-based driver Lategan returns after an excellent season in the W2RC, which included winning the Safari Rally on home soil in South Africa — his first in W2RC — before another second place in Portugal. A transmission failure prevented him from competing for victory in Morocco, relegating him to 14th place in the final and third in the overall standings... with one race less (Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge) over the season than his rivals.
• Lategan is considered the rising star of rally-raid, undoubtedly revelation of season 4 of the W2RC.