For the uninitiated, the Dakar Rally is an annual off-road endurance rally raid across some of the most unforgiving terrain in South America; traversing over rocks, mountains, mud, camel grass, dunes, and rivers.
Considered the toughest rally race in the world and the Holy Grail of rally raid events, next year’s 38th Dakar edition will be held from January 2 – 14 and will take place in 12-stages and across three countries. Kicking off in Asunción, the capital and largest city of Paraguay, going through Bolivia and Argentina, and then finishing up in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Over 400 competitors from over 50 countries will participate in next year’s event.
Where it all started
The original Paris – Dakar Rally (originating in Paris, France and concluding in Dakar, Senegal) began in 1978 but has been held in South America since 2009 due to security threats in Mauritania. The vehicles that compete in the raid are considered true off-road vehicles and include motorcycles (450cc limit), quad bikes (750cc and 900cc groups), cars (from small SUVs to buggies) and trucks (series production and modified groups) and is open to both amateurs and professionals.
Where it’s going
According to Dakar Sporting Director and five-time Dakar motorcycle winner, Marc Coma, “The route of the 2017 Dakar preserves rally-raid traditions, with a physical challenge that will push the competitors into the world of extreme endurance: seven selective sections will be over 400 kilometres with one of more than 500 kilometres. The rally will spend six days at more than 3,000 metres above sea level. The balance of difficulties can be illustrated by a double upward trend: the level of difficulty will increase just until the rest day, then a second increase in power will be necessary, to reach one’s ideal level for the ‘Super Belén’. Nothing will be decided until the very last special stage at Río Cuarto.”
Who’s in it? Hino has a start
There will be 50 participants in the truck category next year, and 2 of those participants is Hino Team Sugawara. Yoshimasa Sugawara, leads the team with 33 consecutive entries under his belt alongside his son, Teruhito Sugawara. For the past eight years, the pupil has beaten the master. Or perhaps more fittingly, the son has proudly stood into the shadow of his father. After first experiencing The Dakar as a mechanic for his father’s truck back in 1998, Teruhito Sugawara was given the opportunity to race alongside his father in 2005. Results have only just improved for the team of 2 including this year’s Dakar Rally. We saw Truck 2, driven by Teruhito Sugawara finish three places higher than the previous year in 13th place, and Truck 1, driven by Yoshimasa improved by one after finishing 31st. The last time Hino Motors won a Dakar rally was in 1997 with Peter Reif and Johan Deinhofer from Austria taking the title in a Hino Ranger.
New improvements for 2017
There are two important upgrades that have been made to the Hino 500 Series Dakar Rally trucks.The first is the trucks’ engine resulting in increased power. Overtime this feature has been a key focus which started in 2014 when it was upgraded from an 8 litre to a 9 litre. The second is an upgrade to the trucks’ suspension system, specifically increasing the lead springs to improve durability. Repeated testing was conducted to evolve these key features including taking part in the Silk Way Rally in July.
The countdown begins, only 21 days left!