Toyota SA Dakar star at Goodwod
2012-06-27 12:55
SA ON SHOW AT GOODWOOD: Toyota's international rally raid success in 2012. The Dakar Rally finish is being celebrated at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed with the SA-built vehicles on show and in action. Image: Quickpic
Toyota's success in international rally raid competition is being represented at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed in England this week by the South African-designed and built V8 Hilux double-cab that raced in the 2012 Dakar Rally in South America.
The three Toyotas that took part in the world’s longest and toughest motor race finished a remarkable third, fifth and 10th at their first attempt in the hands of Stellenbosch’s Giniel de Villiers, Argentine Lucio Alvarez and Johannesburg’s Duncan Vos respectively.
PAST GLORIES
De Villiers, a previous Dakar winner, has also been invited to demonstrate the Hilux V8’s off-road ability on the renowned forest rally stage at this prestigious event. It's also believed to be the first time that a fully South African-developed and built current racing vehicle has been displayed at the event.
Toyota will celebrate past glories and present-day success at the iconic Goodwood gathering with an array of race, rally and road cars. The event also coincides with the official UK launch of the GT86 sports coupe, which can be seen in different guises – from standard road-going to track and concept specials – on display and in action on the Goodwood hill-climb.
The Festival of Speed will include the first UK appearance of Toyota Racing's TS030 hybrid sports car since its international competition debut at the 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours. Staying with the endurance-racing theme, Gazoo Racing will bring its Lexus LFA and Toyota 86, each a class winner in this year's Nürburgring 24 Hour.
TRUE POCKET ROCKET
Gazoo Racing is also revealing its Sports FR Concept, a "twin-charged" version of the GT86 that adds a supercharger and turbocharger to the flat-four engine, boosting power to 196kW. The greater power is matched by a revised suspension, bigger brakes and a full sport body kit.
Much smaller, but equally performance-focused, the latest GRMN supercharged iQ will be taking on the hill challenge. A true pocket rocket, this 82kW iQ was unveiled at the Tokyo auto show at the beginning of 2012 year and will be going on sale – in very small numbers – in Japanishortly.
Completing Toyota's official line-up of cars running on the hill-climb are a further GT86 carrying a full complement of TRD styling and performance accessories, and a road-going version of the Lexus LFA supercar.
