Repsol tests its renewable fuels and lubricants ahead of the 2025 Dakar
Repsol took another step in its commitment to innovation by taking in the 2024 Morocco Rally with four cars that use renewable fuels and latest generation lubricants. The event was an ideal test bed, as the data collected will be essential to keep on improving performance for the next great challenge: the 2025 Dakar Rally.
Repsol lubricants showed their ability to protect engines and maximize their performance in the most demanding conditions. This edition was also a unique chance to test the effectiveness of renewable fuels, developed at the Repsol TechLab.
In his third year with the Toyota Hilux T1+, the Repsol Toyota Rally Team driver, Isidre Esteve, showed great pace in the Ultimate category, achieving an impressive 12th position. "We didn't have any mechanical problems or any flat tires, we had the chance to open the road on a stage, and see the navigation like on a motorcycle; it was fantastic," he highlighted, adding that: “I think that, here in Morocco, I've been more competitive than ever. The sensations I already had in Dakar have been confirmed. Basically, with this car, we're feeling very good, very safe, and confident”
Both Esteve and the official Toyota Gazoo Rally team drivers, Lucas Moraes and Seth Quintero, used 70% renewable-based gasoline, obtaining outstanding results. Quintero came second on the final stage, finishing fifth overall; meanwhile, Moraes finished in fourteenth place and closed the season third in the Drivers' Championship, in what was his first full season in the W2RC.
Joao Ferreira, a Portuguese driver in the Challenger category driving a Mini John Cooper Works Plus, used the 100% renewable-based diesel developed by Repsol, finishing the rally in a commendable eleventh position.
Repsol's commitment to renewable lubricants and fuels is part of its strategy to accelerate the reduction of transport emissions and achieve its goal of becoming a net-zero company by 2050. These products, manufactured from organic waste, offer the same quality and performance as conventional ones, but with a significantly lower environmental impact.
With the experience gained in the Morocco Rally, the Repsol team is getting ready for the 2025 Dakar with the Toyota Hilux T1+, the most demanding race in motor sport, which will take place from January 3 to 17, 2025 in Saudi Arabia.