Toyota reigned supreme in various segments at 2019 Dakar Rally with Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa, Hino Team Sugawara, and Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body (TLC) emerging victorious in their respective categories.
Where was Dakar Rally this time?
What a race, once again. Dakar never fails to impress us all, getting tougher and tougher every year. This year, the racing circus was in Peru, testing the will and grit of the participants and their machines to the extremes. Through the inhospitable Atacama desert, racers piloted their steeds over sand dunes, beaches, open plains and through the desert's most savage sandstorms.How did Toyota perform in Dakar?
Qatari rally driver Nasser Salih Nasser Abdullah Al-Attiyah made sure it was him and his Toyota Hilux developed by Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa that were the champions. Toyota GR finished 13 minutes ahead of the second-placed racing team, X-Raid Mini piloted by Nani Roma. This is the first time a Toyota car has achieved this position in this segment at the Dakar Rally.TLC's Toyota Land Cruiser placed first in Production Division for the sixth consecutive time.
In the Production Division category, Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body (TLC) made it through the finish first. Piloting a 2018-spec Toyota Land Cruiser, the team has secured the first place for the sixth consecutive year.
Hino Team Sugawara also came in first place for the tenth consecutive year. The Hino Ranger truck won in the Truck category (10-litre engine or smaller).
Toyota shows commitment to making “Ever-Better” cars
Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota Motor Corporation congratulated the teams on winning in their respective categories. In his own words, “Cars must be able to run wherever drivers want to go. I believe passionately that roads make cars. If you are wondering if I ever got stuck in the sand, you would be correct: I did. Cars that falter and fail to continue under severe conditions may be a matter of life-or-death for drivers, bringing home another point I feel strongly about: Cars carry the lives of people.“Naturally, crews expect to run such gruelling courses in competition. I believe each team rose to the challenge, unyielding to the extreme environments of the Dakar Rally, and propelling the Toyota Group's philosophy of “making ever-better cars” considerably forward.”
This was also the first win for the Toyota Hilux at Dakar with Nasser Al-Attiyah piloting the race-spec pickup.
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