Toyota Motorsport South Africa (TMSA) recorded a third place in the 2012 Dakar Rally, following it up with a second place in this year’s event. However, to take that almost numerically natural first place in the January 2014 rally would require nothing less than perfection, warned the team’s lead rally driver, Giniel de Villiers, on Thursday.

He said there was nothing the team could really do differently in 2014 than in this year’s race, bar “being perfect”. It was more about what should not happen, than what should be done differently in this year’s event.

The South African made Hilux bakkies performed well in the race, and had proved extremely reliable. However, the team made some mistakes in the 2013 race, such as losing 20 minutes owing to a navigation error, explained De Villiers.

“In the Dakar, it is important to keep on going. To not stop.”

The South African team was “a lot closer” in 2013 than in 2012, he added. “I think we’ll be right there [in 2014]. The race will be difficult from start to finish. With temperatures close to 50 ˚C in the first week it will be difficult.”

He said the team could also benefit from the start of the 2014 rally shifting to rally-like conditions for the first five days of the race, and not kicking off in the sand, as had been the case this year.

Despite the Hilux bakkies’ solid performance in the 2013 rally, next year would see two new vehicles tackling the infamous two-week South American rally, dominated in recent times by Stéphane Peterhansel.

TMSA team principal Glyn Hall said work on the 2014 rally cars started during the 2013 race already, with the engineering team seeking ways to improve their product.

One big improvement Hall wanted this year was to shed the extra 40 kg De Villiers’ bakkie carried above the minimum weight limit.

“Last night we weighed the suspension. The target was to save 5 kg per corner and we managed 5.5 kg. So, that is 22 kg,” said Hall.

A new propshaft could cut 5 kg in weight, while the target for the chassis was to shed 15 kg.

Hall said the trick was often to use more carbon fibre parts, rather than its heavier steel counterparts, for example.

As lead driver, De Villiers and co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz would run their vehicle without spares, also to keep the weight down, with TMSA’s second driver, newcomer Leeroy Poulter, aided by navigator Rob Howie, carrying spares for the bakkies.

Ideally, the two rally cars should race as close together as possible, noted Hall.

“The Dakar Rally is a huge challenge and we must be realistic about our chances of winning,” he added. “Just to complete the 8 500 km route through two countries over 14 days, with its 13 timed special stages, is an achievement.

“We are very proud of our podium finishes in the last two events and we will be aiming to finish on the podium again. A win would be a great reward for the whole team and for its sponsors.”

The TMSA teams enjoyed the backing of main sponsors Toyota South Africa Motors, as well as South Africa’s Imperial Toyota Group, Duxbury Netgear, the Innovation Group and Toyota Financial Services. Other sponsors and technical partners include Blue Sky, Bosch, Castrol, DeWalt, Donaldson, Edgecam, 4x4 Mega World, Hallspeed, Mastercraft, Michelin, Mistral, NGK, Oakley, SKF, Spanjaard and TFM.

The 2014 Dakar Rally starts in Rosario, in Argentina, on January 5, and ends in the Chilean city of Valparaiso on January 18.

There will be seven special stages in Argentina, as well as a rest day in Salta on January 11.

Chile will host six special stages.