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Issue #20:June 22, 2023
In preparation for the 2024 Dakar Rally, TLC performed development tests of a rally car based on the Land Cruiser 300 GR SPORT in Morocco on the African continent for about two weeks to increase the level of both the vehicle and the team.
In the 2023 Dakar Rally, both vehicles encountered "Day Retire" (in line with rally regulations, if a participant leaves a competition stage midway, they will incur penalty time, but will be allowed to compete again from the next day onward), but for the next Dakar Rally in 2024, TLC aims to complete all stages and win the production car category for the 11th consecutive time.
After the 2023 rally was over, the team analyzed the issues encountered with the vehicle. Development personnel from Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd. (the team's parent company), and related manufacturers, as well as the rally car development and production team of TLC based in France, worked together to identify the causes of the issues and discussed improvement measures. A test rally car with improvements based on the 2023 rally was brought in for the test this time.
The mission for us during this test was to improve the reliability of the rally vehicle, in order to be able to complete all stages of the Dakar Rally while maintaining the high driving performance of the Land Cruiser 300 GR SPORT. In order to achieve this, TLC drove approximately 4,500 km off-road, which is equivalent to the total SS distance (competition stages) in the Dakar Rally, to evaluate the improvement measures implemented to address each problem that occurred in the 2023 rally, as well as to identify any other potential issues.
During the testing process, new information was needed, but thanks to the timely sharing of details, and the exchange of feedback across the domestic development team, all items for the test were completed, and the basic specifications for the 2024 rally car have been determined.
The new mechanics who joined this year, Fumihiko Tanigami (Fukuoka Toyota Corporation) and Alex Cardoso, actively participated in the tests. By communicating with senior mechanics, engineers, drivers, and navigators, they deepened their understanding of rally vehicles and improved their skills and experience as rally mechanics.
In October, the team plans to bring in an improved test vehicle that incorporates the results of this test to compete in the 2023 Rally of Morocco to be held in Morocco, to simulate the Dakar Rally in real-world conditions, and to further strengthen both the team and the vehicles.
After this test, chief mechanic Philippe Challoy said, "We felt that it would be an extraordinary challenge to improve the durability of the Land Cruiser 300 rally car, which has acquired a speed beyond our initial imagination, within the rules of the production car category. In addition, we were able to confirm that the direction for this car, which was created by the collective wisdom and unwavering determination of many people involved in the project, was not mistaken. On the other hand, we are not completely satisfied yet. We will indeed work hard to eliminate any potential problems that may occur based on the test results, and then we will go on to the Morocco Rally. There is only a limited amount of time left, but we will produce a rally car that we can bring to the 2024 rally with confidence."
Team manager Yuji Kakutani (Toyota Auto Body, Public Relations Division) said, "Although it is a test, 4,500 km of off-road driving in a two-week schedule is the Dakar Rally itself. It would not have been possible if we had to spend a lot of time investigating the cause of a problem if the car had stopped. First of all, I am relieved that we were able to complete all of the items on our checklist as planned. Not everything went smoothly, but I believe that the test was a fruitful one, with all the team members, including those involved in development on the Japanese side, overcoming difficulties. I am grateful not only to the team members but also to everyone who helped our "making ever-better Land Cruisers" through the Dakar rally."
Driver Akira Miura (Toyota Auto Body, Public Relations Division) said, "The reliability of the machine has improved dramatically, and I can step on the accelerator pedal with confidence. In particular, the BOS shock absorbers, which were newly designed to match the revised rear suspension layout within the regulations, and the TOYO TIRES OPEN COUNTRY M/T-R, which is an improved version from the previous rally, matched very well, and we found the settings to achieve the driving performance close to what I am aiming for. In addition, based on the test-driving data shared, we received advice from Japan to improve the torque in the mid-speed range, and I think we have created a car that is easy to control at will without putting a burden on the car during heavy gas pedal operation."
TLC will continue to take on the challenge to win its 11th consecutive championship in the production car category. Your continued support is appreciated.