ricster wrote:hmmmm...speaking of which...... didn't see any cruisers on the Dakar.......

They are there. Have a look at the
results so far for the T2.2 class (diesel powered production vehicles):
1st, 340, FOJ (ESP)/SANTAMARÍA (ARG), TOYOTA Prado D4D 150 Series (SWB)
2nd, 342, ALHERAIZ (UAE)/ALKENDI (UAE), TOYOTA Prado D4D 120 Series
3rd , 343, GIBON (FRA)/MIURA (JPN), TOYOTA Land Cruiser D4D 200 Series
4th, 341, MITSUHASHI (JPN)/GUEHENNEC (FRA), TOYOTA Land Cruiser D4D 200 Series
5th, 359, YACOPINI (ARG)/TORLASCHI (ARG), TOYOTA Fortuner D4D
6th, 367, HALPERN (ARG)/PULENTA (ARG), TOYOTA Fortuner D4D
7th, 351, FERYN (BEL)/DE LEEUW (BEL), TOYOTA Land Cruiser D4D 200 Series
8th, 455, SEBESTYÉN (HUN)/BOGNÁR (HUN), TOYOTA Land Cruiser D4D 200 Series
9th, 405, PÓCSIK (HUN)/FARKAS (HUN)/SZALLER (HUN), TOYOTA Land Cruiser D4D 200 Series
10th, 434, GIRARD (FRA)/SIMONIN (FRA), TOYOTA Land Cruiser 100 Series TD
11th, 426, RICHARD (FRA)/LEROUX (FRA), TOYOTA Prado D4D 120 Series
There are only the two Patrol 4.8s contesting class T2.1 (petrol powered production vehicles) and the Patrol that is leading class T2.1 is currently behind the 7th placed 200 Series in class T2.2 (diesel powered production vehicles)...Of course it is early days, yet.
It is interesting that there don't seem to be any petrol powered Toyotas nor diesel powered Nissans in T2.