Toyota Gazoo Racing's South African driver Henk Lategan.
Image: AFP
South African rally-raid star Henk Lategan says he is determined to turn last season’s string of second-place finishes into victory when the championship heads to Portugal.
The World Rally-Raid Championship contender enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign filled with podiums, but Lategan believes the time has come to convert consistency into wins.
“Last year we finished second in Dakar and then second in Portugal again. So yeah, last year was a good year for the podium, but we managed to get one win in South Africa and finished third in the championship," Lategan said from his base in Austria.
While satisfied with the overall performance, the South African admits the goal for 2026 is a clear victory. “Last year was decent, but this year we definitely want to go one better in Portugal. We’re definitely aiming for first place there.”
Portugal presents a unique challenge compared to the vast desert terrain drivers face at the iconic Dakar Rally. The rally-style roads demand precision and place heavy strain on the athletes, as the constant pedalling for periods of up to four hours at a time becomes tiresome — even for a professional. The tight, technical layout creates a different test for the machinery as well.
“It’s really tight, really twisty and really hard on the brakes. It’s more of a rally-style race. It’s different to what the cars are used to at Dakar in the open desert environments. They’re a little bit out of their natural habitat in the tight and twisty races like Portugal.”
To prepare, Lategan and his team have adjusted their build philosophy to better suit the conditions. “It’s a completely different feeling, a different philosophy that we’ve gone for this year. The setup is very different to what I’m used to, but we’ve made changes specifically for Portugal.
"In Portugal there are a lot of smaller bumps, but nothing as big as in the open desert. So we can give away a little of that big protection you need and change that for grip and handling. We’re making a trade-off — letting go of some of the rougher handling and going a bit more refined and precise."
If those adjustments pay off, and the team can avoid mechanical issues, Lategan could finally stand on the top step of the podium in Portugal with gold around his neck.
* Jehran Naidoo is sports reporter with focus on motorsport for Independent Media and social media coordinator of the our YouTube channel The Clutch.