Seth Quintero Lands His First W2RC Ultimate Win for Toyota Gazoo Racing
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Seth Quintero won the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF in San Juan on 29 May 2026, claiming the first Ultimate victory of his career and handing Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC its first 1-2 finish of the season. The 23-year-old Californian beat stage winner Henk Lategan by 1 minute 55 seconds and three-time world champion Nasser Al Attiyah by 2 minutes 26 seconds, in a finish that came down to the final kilometres.
For anyone following the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, this was the moment a long-tipped talent finally turned podium potential into a win. And it tells you a lot about how the 2026 title fight is shaping up before the season heads into its final two rounds.
A Win Built on Patience, Not Luck
Quintero had been honest about what was missing from his rally-raid record. He had already stood on the overall Ultimate podium several times, but the top step kept slipping away. In Argentina he drove the whole week like a veteran rather than a 23-year-old, staying clean, staying smart, and putting himself in position to capitalise when the race opened up.
The decisive moment came on the final stage. Al Attiyah looked set for victory until a puncture 87 kilometres from the line forced him to stop and change a wheel. By the time he was moving again, he had lost crucial time and found himself caught in the dust of his Dacia teammate Sébastien Loeb. Quintero pounced, and the wheel of fortune finally turned his way.
Toyota's First 1-2 of the Season
The result was more than a personal milestone for Quintero. It delivered Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC its first one-two finish of 2026, with Lategan completing the front row. It was also Toyota's sixth victory in Argentina, extending the manufacturer's strong record at this event.
The Toyota Hilux has long been one of the most reliable platforms in the Ultimate class, and a result like this shows what the package can do when the team keeps it on the road through a punishing five-stage week. For privateers and amateur crews who look up to the factory programmes, the lesson is the same one we preach at TimeOut Racing: finishing consistently beats chasing the hero stage.
What It Means for the Championship
The win reshuffled the FIA Drivers standings without overturning them. Loeb finished just off the podium in fourth, plus 3 minutes 54 seconds, yet still leads the championship on 114 points. Al Attiyah sits second on 111, just 3 points back, and Quintero's victory lifted him to third on 101, now 13 points adrift with two rounds to run.
That is a tight top three heading into the closing stretch of the season, and Quintero has put himself firmly in the conversation. The Dacia Sandriders lost their 2026 unbeaten run here, but they still lead both the drivers and manufacturers tables, so the pressure now sits on Toyota and Ford to keep clawing back.
Why This Matters if You Dream of the Dakar
Stories like Quintero's are exactly why so many privateers fall in love with rally-raid. A young driver, years of near-misses, then one clean week that changes everything. The factory Ultimate class is a world away from amateur entry routes, but the underlying craft is identical: preparation, navigation discipline, and the patience to bring the car home.
That is the path TimeOut Racing builds for its clients. If watching the W2RC has you thinking about your own start line, our Dakar Classic rally assistance covers everything from vehicle preparation to full service support on the event itself, so you can focus on driving while we handle the rest.
About the Author:
Sven Syfrig is the Team Principal of TimeOut Racing, an international off-road motorsport team based in Switzerland, competing in events like the Dakar Classic. As an active rally driver and YouTube content creator, he shares hands-on insights from the cockpit, the workshop, and the world of amateur rally racing
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Seth Quintero?
Seth Quintero is a 23-year-old American rally-raid driver from California who competes for Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC in the Ultimate class of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship. He took his first Ultimate victory at the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF in Argentina on 29 May 2026.
Did Seth Quintero win in Argentina 2026?
Yes. Seth Quintero won the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF in San Juan on 29 May 2026, beating Henk Lategan by 1 minute 55 seconds and Nasser Al Attiyah by 2 minutes 26 seconds. It was the first Ultimate win of his career.
What car does Seth Quintero drive?
Seth Quintero drives the Toyota Hilux for Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC in the Ultimate class. His win in Argentina delivered Toyota its first 1-2 finish of the 2026 season alongside teammate Henk Lategan.
Who leads the W2RC championship in 2026?
After the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF, Sébastien Loeb leads the FIA Drivers championship on 114 points, ahead of Nasser Al Attiyah on 111 and Seth Quintero on 101, with two rounds remaining.