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Participating in the 2023 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia
Taking on the challenge for a 10th consecutive victory with the debuting Land Cruiser 300

Issue #21:November 14, 2022

On Monday 14 November 2022 at Sanage Adventure Field, TLC held a rally press announcement for the debuting 2023 Dakar Rally car based on the Land Cruiser 300 GR SPORT and announced the team structure for the rally.

Toyota Auto body Co., Ltd. President Keiji Masui expressed his gratitude for being able to debut the Land Cruiser 300 series launched last year. Over the years, Land Cruiser has been strengthened in the Dakar Rally’s production car category thanks to the support of partner companies. To “make ever better cars through the Dakar Rally”, they use the results gained through each competition for future Land Cruisers, refining what defines us: reliability, durability and off-road driving performance, “a car that can take you anywhere and bring you back”. It is with this vision that he wishes to continue meeting the expectations of customers around the world.

Next, team representative Atsushi Honda outlined the team structure for the 2023 rally. The team is managed by Yuji Kakutani (Toyota Auto Body, Public Relations Division), who has led the team through consecutive victories since 2015. It is the eighth year for the car #1 team with Akira Miura (Toyota Auto Body, Public Relations Division) who also participated in the development of the Land Cruiser 300 series, together with Laurent Lichtleuchter. In car #2, starting from the 2021 rally, Ronald Basso from TLC and Jean-Michel Polato will be participating. He told us about his expectations of wanting to see a champion’s race unfold with these two cars as they work together for the win. The team of mechanics will be led by chief mechanic Philippe Challoy who has been leading the team for many years, and three Japanese mechanics will be participating. Supporting the Land Cruiser 300 in the rally, for his second year, Naoki Anami from Fukuoka Toyota Corporation will be leader, with Yuta Nakatake joining for the fourth time with rookie mechanic Isamu Ito also joining. Taking on the challenge, there will be a total of 19 members consisting of both French and Japanese staff.

Details of the rally will be announced around or after late November. This Dakar Rally will be held over the longest number of days and for the longest distances since moving to the Middle East in 2020 (information will be updated when details are available).

As always, the team greatly appreciates your warm support as we all turn our heads to the 2023 Dakar Rally opening that starts on 31 December 2022.

Click here for rally car details
https://www.toyota-body.co.jp/dakar/en/season2023/team/machine.html


Click here for team details
https://www.toyota-body.co.jp/dakar/en/season2023/team/