Toyota Gazoo Racing SA revamped for Dakar 2017
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) and Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (SA) have announced significant changes to their strategy for Dakar 2017 and beyond.
This includes the deployment of a new race vehicle, known as the Toyota Hilux Evo, as well as the expansion of the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA squad.
The new race vehicle sports two-wheel-drive, increased suspension travel, on-board tyre inflation and deflation and a larger air restrictor – some of the many changes that should allow Toyota Gazoo Racing SA to race on a more competitive footing during Dakar 2017, says Toyota Gazoo Racing SA team principal Glyn Hall.
The expanded team includes former Dakar winner and newly crowned FIA Cross Country World Cup Champion, Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah, and his French navigator, Matthieu Baumel.
“Nasser has been extremely happy behind the wheel of our Toyota Hilux, winning round after round of the FIA’s World Cup,” notes Hall.
“We are looking forward to his input in the development of the new vehicle, and even more to him donning the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA colours for Dakar 2017.”
Al-Attiyah will join Giniel de Villiers, who won the Dakar Rally in 2009, and Leeroy Poulter – fifth in 2016 – in the driver line-up for 2017.
De Villiers will again partner with long-standing German navigator Dirk von Zitzewitz.
Poulter will have Rob Howie next to him in the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Hilux for their fourth Dakar together.
Poulter is currently leading both the South African National Rally Championship and the Donaldson Cross Country Motor Racing Championship.
Poulter is currently recovering from surgery to remove a growth.
Hall is positive Al-Attiyah’s influence will benefit the entire team.
“Not only is Nasser a very popular driver with a truly massive global following, but he is also exceptionally fast. This will inspire both Giniel and Leeroy to raise their games.”
In the international arena, the South African-built and -developed Toyota Hilux has notched up five victories on the 2016 FIA Cross Country World Cup circuit with Al-Attiyah and Baumel in the cockpit.
The Toyota Hilux has become a familiar sight at global cross-country events, with 28 vehicles completing the 2016 Dakar Rally in the car category alone.
The New Dakar Hilux
With Dakar 2017 less than six months away, Toyota Gazoo Racing SA has unveiled the all-new Toyota Hilux Evo that will compete in South America, come January.
The new vehicle – designed and built in South Africa – is an entirely new concept, employing two-wheel-drive rather than the four-wheel-drive systems of the past.
Opting for two-wheel drive allows for a different set of Dakar rules with more freedom than is afforded four-wheel-drive vehicles.
“We are very excited about this new direction,” says TSAM marketing VP Glenn Crompton.
“At its core, [the vehicle] is very much still a true Toyota Hilux, but, at the same time, we firmly believe it offers us new opportunities for Dakar 2017 and beyond.”
The new vehicle conforms to all the rules set out by the FIA and used by the Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO), organisers of the Dakar Rally.
The new racing Hilux boasts a significantly lower overall weight of 1 300 kg as a target, compared with the 1 915 kg of the 4 × 4 version of the Toyota Hilux.
It also features larger wheels and tyres of 940 mm (diameter), compared with 805 mm for the 4 × 4, significantly greater suspension travel and an on-board tyre inflation/deflation system.
“Essentially, this is our take on what a two-wheel-drive Dakar challenger should be,” says Hall.
“We have taken all the testing and real-world experience we gained with the four-wheel-drive Toyota Hilux over the past five years and repackaged it in the lighter, faster Toyota Hilux Evo.”
Under its skin, the Toyota Hilux Evo sees all essential components – the engine and transmission – housed between the two axles.
This gives the vehicle an advantage over its competitors in terms of weight distribution and, with all the heaviest components placed near the bottom of the vehicle, the centre of gravity is lower than before.
“The important thing for us was to retain as much as possible from the previous vehicle in terms of suspension setup and engine tech,” notes Hall.
“With this in mind, we have stayed with the same proven, state-of-the-art V8 engine, and [applied] all our knowledge when designing and setting up the suspension.”
For the 2017 edition of the Dakar, the ASO has announced that the average altitude for the race will be above 2 000 m. This means that the normally aspirated V8 will enjoy a 38 mm restrictor for the first time, allowing the modern Toyota engine to breathe more efficiently.
It will also be the first time that Toyota, Mini and Peugeot will be using the same size restrictor, as previous years saw Hilux competitors sport either a 1 mm or 2 mm advantage.
The new vehicle is set to undergo rigorous testing and refinement, before being shipped to South America at the end of the year.
“Winning the Dakar isn’t easy,” emphasises Hall. “There are a lot of people trying really hard. But winning Dakar requires more than just fast drivers, good navigators and a highly reliable car. We know we have got all of those elements, but you also need Lady Luck to smile on you. Who knows, maybe 2017 is our year.”
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