In one of motorsport’s most demanding arenas, a partnership forged in engineering precision and high-performance ambition has proven its worth. SKF, a global leader in bearing technology and innovation, celebrated a remarkable milestone in partnership with SVR Toyota GAZOO Racing, taking second position overall at the 2025 Dakar Rally – a gruelling 8000 km endurance race across Saudi Arabia’s most unforgiving terrain.
SKF has supported Toyota GAZOO Racing through product sponsorships for many years, and this enduring and successful partnership continues to thrive under Toyota GAZOO Racing’s new ownership, Shameer Variawa Racing (SVR). All four SVR Toyota GAZOO Racing cars participating at Dakar 2025 relied on SKF’s premium bearing solutions, which are used in critical vehicle systems including the wheel hubs, complete steering assembly, gearbox, drive train and suspension.
“Dakar is the world’s toughest rally, and reliability is king,” says Saood Variawa, the youngest competitor ever to win a car stage at Dakar. “The Toyota Hilux is one of the most reliable vehicles out there, and having SKF as a partner added to our confidence. Knowing we had the best bearings in the car allowed me to push to the limit.”
“Taking on Dakar is no small feat – it takes a focused, driven team and dependable partners to meet that challenge,” says Shameer Variawa, owner of SVR Racing South Africa. “We’re grateful to SKF for their unwavering support and top-quality bearing solutions. This partnership delivers mutual benefits – we get reliable bearings and race-winning cars, and SKF gets proof of their product’s durability under extreme conditions.”
Reimagining rotation for a circular and sustainable future SKF South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
Through the design and manufacture of components with sustainability at their core, SKF is reimagining the future of rotation, rolling away from traditional, consumable-based thinking toward a smarter, more sustainable circular approach.”
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