Christian Lavieille was a key figure in developing Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body during the Dakar Rally’s South American era, then did the same for MD Rallye Sport in the ongoing Saudi period. After six years with MD, he is heading back to TLC and the Stock category.

Lavieille joined Toyota Auto Body in 2016, winning that year’s Rallye OiLibya du Maroc in the Open division. He then won the T2 class at Dakar in 2017, 2019, and the race’s inaugural Saudi edition in 2020.

His successes earned him a shot in a T1 car with MD Rallye Sport for 2021, being the flagship driver of the MD Optimus EVO 4 and EVO 5 cars. He finished runner-up in the T1.2 subdivision for 2WD machines at the 2023 (11th overall), 2024 (12th), and 2026 Dakars (22nd).

Toyota and MD can certainly attest to his value in testing and improving their rally machines, owing to over two decades of rally experience—he has raced Dakar since 2003—and achievements in other disciplines such as Le Mans and the FIM Endurance World Championship. Lavieille is such a vital asset for manufacturers that he was one of the first drivers to race the Can-Am Maverick R in a World Rally-Raid Championship event. Just two months after the side-by-side was revealed, before it had even been homologated for FIA competition, he finished third in Experimental UTV at the 2024 Rallye du Maroc.

A ride at Toyota Auto Body opened up following Akira Miura’s post-Dakar promotion to Toyota Gazoo Racing and the Ultimate class. Ronald Basso, the team’s other driver, finished third in Stock at January’s Dakar. Toyota is the only major Stock team besides Defender Rally, the latter running the full W2RC schedule whereas TLC does just Dakar and Morocco.

Lavieille’s navigator Valentin Sarreaud, who’s been by his side since 2023, will follow him to Toyota.

“Before starting this new chapter, I would like to thank MD Rallye Sport and the entire Morel family for their trust, commitment, and support over the past six years,” said Lavieille. “We shared an exceptional human and sporting adventure that will remain etched in my memory.”

Featured image credit: DPPI / ASO