Dakar – Toyota switches to two-wheel drive for 2017

Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa a annoncé, ce mercredi, faire sa « révolution » pour le prochain Dakar : l’équipe dirigée par Glyn Hall est en train de construire des engins à deux roues motrices, appelés « Toyota Hilux Evo ». Nulle part le terme « buggy » n’est employé, mais il s’agit bien de voitures à deux roues motrices, avec un moteur situé au centre du châssis.

“The new vehicle will comply with the technical regulations of the FIA ​​and ASO, the organizer of the Dakar. This means a significant drop in weight, 1300 kg compared to 1915 kg for the 4X4 version of our Hilux, larger tires (940 mm in diameter. Editor's note), suspensions with more travel and an integrated inflation-deflation system, a revealed the main Team.

As for the mechanics, we will use as many elements as possible from the old Hilux, in particular the V8 engine, which will be equipped with a 38 mm flange in order to breathe better at altitude. Finally, the two-wheel drive regulation allows optimum location of peripheral elements in order to have the best distribution of masses. »

Despite the fact that the deadline is relatively short – the 2017 Dakar takes place in four months exactly – the South African team has already decided on the three crews that will have the Hilux Evos: Nasser Al-Attiyah and Matthieu Baumel, recently crowned FIA TT World Cup winners Giniel de Villiers and his German navigator Dirk Von Zitzewitz, as well as Leeroy Poulter-Rob Howie, who will be on their fourth Dakar together.

Testing in South Africa is expected to begin shortly. As for the operation on the ground, entrusted in recent years to the Belgian Overdrive team, it has not yet been revealed.