IAV Dragoon takes on the Dakar: engineering proven under extreme conditions

Heat, dust, dunes, vibration and relentless mechanical stress: the Dakar Rally provides an environment where technology has to perform far beyond conventional development and test conditions. In 2027, IAV technology will be part of this challenge. IAV Dragoon, the company’s modular control unit platform, will be deployed in GAZOO Racing’s DKR GR FC Hilux as it takes on the Dakar Future Mission 1000 in Saudi Arabia.

In the vehicle, IAV Dragoon acts as the interface control unit between the vehicle and Toyota’s fuel cell system. In this role, it provides the crucial link between vehicle-side functions and the fuel cell system, enabling the two domains to communicate and operate together within the overall vehicle architecture.

Based on the Dakar-proven DKR GR Hilux, Toyota’s new prototype replaces the conventional powertrain with a fuel cell system. The vehicle will compete in the Dakar Future Mission 1000, a category designed to bring experimental technologies into demanding real-world motorsport conditions.

For IAV, the project provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of its own technology where reliability, performance and robustness are decisive.

From interface control to extreme application

Developed for prototypes, functional vehicles and small-series applications, IAV Dragoon is designed as a flexible and modular control unit that can be adapted to a wide range of vehicle architectures and functions.

In the DKR GR FC Hilux, this flexibility is applied in a particularly demanding context: IAV Dragoon connects the vehicle with Toyota’s fuel cell system and forms an important part of the vehicle’s overall control architecture.

Its modular hardware concept, IAV’s base software, modern vehicle networking and support for safety- and cybersecurity-relevant functions make Dragoon suitable for complex applications – including fuel cell systems.

At the Dakar Future Mission 1000, these capabilities will face an exceptional operating environment. Long distances, changing terrain, high loads and demanding climatic conditions turn the rally into an intensive proving ground not only for the vehicle, but also for the electronic and software systems behind it.

Jörg Astalosch, CEO of IAV:

“Toyota’s trust in IAV for this ambitious project makes us proud and is a great honor for us. For many years, we have been developing fuel cell technologies, combining this expertise with our global engineering capabilities. The Dakar Future Mission 1000 pushes innovative technologies to their limits under challenging conditions, a true test of performance and resilience.

The fact that the IAV Dragoon, powered by IAV’s software stack, one of our own products, will be deployed in this demanding environment demonstrates how we translate engineering expertise into robust, application-ready technology.

At IAV, we have always believed that the best technologies are developed at the edge of what is possible. That is why we deeply admire Toyota’s unwavering commitment to motorsport around the world as a platform to challenge boundaries, validate new concepts, and accelerate innovation under the toughest conditions. To contribute to this effort with our own expertise and products is truly inspiring and a privilege for our entire team.

We are very pleased to support Toyota on this journey.”

1,000 competitive kilometers as a technology proving ground

The Dakar Future Mission 1000 is evolving from an experimental programme into an increasingly performance-focused technology platform. For the 2027 edition, the format will move closer to the competitive requirements of rally raid, including timed speed-test zones, reference times and a daily points classification.

GAZOO Racing plans to enter the DKR GR FC Hilux across 13 stages and around 1,000 competitive kilometers. The programme is intended to generate insights into the performance, cooling and durability of the fuel cell system under demanding operating conditions.

For IAV Dragoon, this means operating at a technically critical interface under continuous stress: between the vehicle and Toyota’s fuel cell system. The demanding environment of the Dakar Future Mission 1000 therefore provides a valuable validation setting for both the control unit and the software stack running on it.

IAV Dragoon: connecting complex vehicle systems

IAV Dragoon is a modular control unit designed for prototypes and small-series production across a broad range of applications. Depending on the configuration, it can support functions ranging from gateway applications to complex vehicle control tasks.

The platform combines configurable hardware with IAV software, modern networking technologies such as Automotive Ethernet and support for established automotive safety and cybersecurity requirements. Customer-specific hardware extensions allow the system to be adapted to individual applications.

In the DKR GR FC Hilux, IAV Dragoon demonstrates precisely this strength: integrating complex systems and enabling reliable interaction between the vehicle and the fuel cell system under highly demanding operating conditions.