Cars & Autos | Monday 4 February, 2019 2:00 am |

From the Arabian Desert, to the frozen polar wastes, Toyota’s vehicles proved themselves as trusted top performers, whatever the environment. Now it has gone further in its world-conquering achievements by claiming Toyota’s first victory in the 41st edition of the grueling Dakar Rally. The modified Hilux led throughout 10 days and more than 4,828 km of harsh desert driving in Peru to claim the win in the car category.

 

Even though the pick-up was specially adapted to deal with the challenge, its success is another demonstration of the reliable and hard-wearing quality of the engineering that has defined Hilux for decades.

 

The challenges faced by the Hilux on the Dakar were exceptional, but Nasser Al Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel successfully negotiated the 10 stages to seal a historic first victory for Toyota in one of the world’s toughest motorsports events. Their triumph adds to the recent impressive successes Toyota has clinched in international competitions, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the manufacturers’ title in the FIA World Rally Championship.

 

Since 2012, the team had posted five podium places and seven top-five finishes, whereas Al Attiyah’s win comes after a second-place result in 2018. The Hilux was also the first petrol vehicle in its class to take victory since the start of the Dakar’s South American era, being powered by a mid-mounted, normally aspirated V8.

 

There was further success for Toyota in the event with the Team Land Cruiser Auto Body’s #350, driven by Christian Lavieille and Jean-Pierre Garcin, winning the Dakar Production Division category for the sixth consecutive year. Meanwhile, #349, driven by Akira Miura and Laurent Lichtleuchter, secured second place in the category.

 

Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, ‎including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship and the Nürburgring 24 ‎Hours endurance race. Toyota’s participation in these events was overseen by separate ‎entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established GAZOO Racing (GR), ‎to consolidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand. Representing ‎Toyota’s belief that ‘the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,’ GR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota’s commitment to ‎making ‘ever-better’ cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme ‎conditions of various motorsports events, GR aims to forge new ‎technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone.