SA Dakar drivers now in top 10
2012-03-27 11:46
MOVING INTO THE TOP 10: Drivers Duncan Vos (left) and Rob Howie have been awarded a top 10 finish in the 2012 Dakar rally.
Confirmation of a technical infringement by Hummer driver Robbie Gordon in the 2012 Dakar Rally means all three South African-built Toyota Hilux bakkies are now in the top 10.
The 2012 Dakar Rally took place in South America in January and saw competitors race in a gruelling 8000km event.
While the third-place overall finish of 2009 Dakar champions Giniel de Villiers and German co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz remains, the Hilux of Argentine privateers Lucio Alvarez and Ronnie Graue moves up from sixth to fifth.
SA HEROES
The second Toyota Hilux belonging to SA drivers Duncan Vos and Rob Howie havsbeen elevated from 11th to 10th overall.
Gordon’s exclusion was ratified by the international governing body of motorsport, the FIA, after he was excluded during the Dakar but he completed the event while racing under appeal.
Toyota Motorsport team principal Glyn Hall said: “We were already very happy and proud to have all three of our uniquely South African Toyota Hilux bakkies finish the toughest and longest off-road race in the world at the team’s first attempt.
"That they are now officially classified as having completed the gruelling 15-day 8000km race in the top 10 is great news. It’s also a fitting reward to a special team of South Africans that put in an almost superhuman effort over several months to prepare the vehicles for the event and then looked after them so well throughout the two weeks of competition.”
