Toyota drivers bullish about chances of toppling Peugeot

Both X-Raid Mini convert Al-Attiyah and de Villiers were on the podium in last year's event, but largely played second fiddle throughout to the Peugeots, which claimed nine stage wins from 12.

Yet the Toyota contingent is looking stronger in 2017, with the arrivals of Al-Attiyah and Nani Roma (also from X-Raid), upgrades to the Hilux car and tweaks to the regulations.

"I'm sure we'll be able to challenge in a better way," de Villiers told Motorsport.com.

"The car is definitely better than last year - and with the Peugeot losing 1mm [as per new regulations] of its restrictor, I think it will be a lot closer, a lot more fair. We should've actually had that [rule] last year already.

"Hopefully it can be close - if it's close, it's a good fight, and that makes it interesting for everybody. Not like last year where the Peugeots were too far ahead, running away too much, checking out, basically.

"Okay, some of them had crashes, accidents, things like that, but in pure speed they were too quick, and it wasn't really a competition. But for sure I think we're in with a good chance [this time]."

The arrival of two-time Dakar winner Al-Attiyah has looked a particular boost for Toyota, as the Qatari dominated the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies - and even comfortably outduelled Carlos Sainz and the new Peugeot 3008DKR in Rally Morocco.

"I made the change for the Toyota. We won six races this year, 2016, in cross-country," Al-Attiyah told Motorsport.com. "Many drivers also drive for Toyota, but no change [in the performance]. But, okay, I find myself in a good way and Toyota has improved.

"The regulation was different [last year], and the Mini was different and the Toyota. Now everything is coming together and I'm sure it will be a fair competition."

Said de Villiers: "The team is strong and for sure that will help. It's good for Toyota, these guys [Al-Attiyah and Roma] driving.

"If you look at Nasser's performance against Carlos in Morocco, it's certainly very encouraging.

"Nasser has won all the races this year - at the moment he's probably the guy to beat in cross-country, and to have him in our team is very good."

Altitude a concern

De Villiers did, however, downplay the suggestions that Toyota would enjoy a power advantage over Peugeot, and reckoned the altitudes encountered in the Bolivian leg of the rally were the biggest threat to the Japanese marque's victory bid.

"The Peugeot is still three-to-four kilograms lighter than the Toyota," continued the South African. "Even if the Toyota has a power advantage, which I doubt, at altitude you have the power-to-weight issue. The lighter car with the same power will accelerate quicker.

"Last year we were killed at altitude by Peugeot, by a lot of minutes, eight, 10, 12, 15 minutes. That's a lot of seconds per kilometre you have to [gain] to be at the same speed with them. So we'll see how it goes.

"I would've been more confident if the race was never higher than 2000 metres, then I would've been a lot more confident. But the fact that we have three days above 3500-to-4000, may be a bit tricky."