The 2015 Dakar Rally promises to live up to the legend created by the 35 previous editions of what has become one of our planet’s most iconic motorsport events.
As in 2012, 2013 and 2014, South Africa is pinning its hopes for Dakar success on the Imperial Toyota South Africa Dakar Team who will be there for the start, fielding the best race Toyota Hilux V8 yet.
“We are very pleased with the latest evolution of our proven Toyota Hilux Dakar bakkie,” says Team Principal Glyn Hall. “This is the third generation of the vehicle which came third in its first year on the Dakar. And most importantly, the drivers are just as happy with it as I am.”
The driver line-up for 2015 is unchanged from the last Dakar. Giniel de Villiers (#303), who won the event in 2009, will again spearhead Toyota Imperial South Africa Dakar Team's attack. It will be De Villiers’ 12th year of participation in the rally. Beside him in the car is long-time navigator Dirk von Zitzewitz (Germany), who is himself a veteran of 14 Dakar Rallies.
The lead Toyota pair will again be the main threat to the MINI All4 Racing armada and new Peugeot 2008 DKR teams, currently locked in a battle for victory in the legendary event. Leeroy Poulter and navigator Rob Howie (#327) are also in action in the second Toyota Imperial Hilux. The pair made their mark early in the 2014 race when they set the third fastest time on stage three, finishing in 33rd position overall.
The new Toyota Imperial Hilux is essentially an evolution of its predecessor, rather than a complete redesign. As such, it has built on the strengths of the preceding versions, though visually the new vehicle may represent the biggest change yet.
Immediately evident are the spare wheels which have been relocated from the back of the car. One wheel now fits under the cockpit, with one each mounted on the sides behind the doors. This has shifted the significant mass (120 kg) of the wheels to an area within the axles, and also lowered the centre of gravity as a result.
“You can really feel the difference,” says Dakar veteran De Villiers of the new layout. “It is massive. The new bakkie is much faster through twisty sections, and we've also worked on the suspension a lot to make it land better after jumps.”
The change in layout came largely thanks to new regulations that allow the Toyota Imperial Hilux to be 60 kg lighter than before. In order to fully capitalise on this reduction in weight, the team decided to also maximise weight distribution for better handling and balance.
In addition to the weight saving, the regulations now also allow for a slightly larger air restrictor. This was done in an effort to level the playing field for the various different types of engines that essentially compete in the same class – notably the turbo-diesels that suffer less at high altitudes and in thick sand than the normally aspirated petrol engines do.
At the same time, the new Hilux features a fully South African developed suspension system, a new air conditioning system, and many other refinements to the original race bakkie. All of this will be put to the test as the 2015 edition of the Dakar gets under way in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The route consists of a trans-continental loop which visits Chile and Bolivia, before returning to Argentina for the finish back in the Argentine capital on 17th January.
As in the past, the South African team will receive logistical and infrastructure support from Belgian outfit Team Overdrive on the event. Team Overdrive also supports a host of other Toyota Hilux competitors, including accomplished drivers such as Lucio Alvarez from Argentina (#313), Bernhard ten Brinke from the Netherlands (#315) and Yazeed Al-Rajhi from Saudi Arabia (#325).
The two South African Toyota Hilux race vehicles departed for Argentina on 15th December, once again transported by SAA Cargo.
Toyota Motorsport South Africa acknowledges its Dakar sponsors: Duxbury Netgear, Innovation Group, Toyota Financial Services, SAA Cargo, Toyota and Imperial Toyota, and official specialist suppliers and technical partners Hallspeed, TFM, Castrol, SKF, Spanjaard, Robor, 4x4 Megaworld, NGK, Donaldson, Mastercraft, Sat4Rent, Oakley, Edgecam, Supreme Springs, FreeM, Bosch, Smiths Manufacturing and Shatterprufe.
South African Dakar fans can follow the fortunes of the Toyota Imperial South Africa Dakar Team on Facebook at www.facebook.com/toyotasouthafrica and on Twitter: @toyotasa.
Stage 4 Update
Stage 4 Update
0 comments :
Post a Comment