Campana, Argentina - The works Toyota team for the 2016 Dakar Rally arrived safely in South America and the three new Hilux bakkies have been re-assembled, ready for the start in Buenos Aires on 2 January.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing team is based near the Toyota Argentina plant in Zarate, about an hour north of Buenos Aires, which is where the team put the Hiluxes through a thorough shakedown session to bed in all the components and make sure everything was working after re-assembly.
The three bakkies were flown to Argentina earlier in December, along with literally tons of spares and all the tools and equipment they'll need to get them through two weeks of the toughest motorsport event on the planet.
Team principal Glyn Hall said after the shakedown run: "Today was another vital milestone in the run-up to the start of the Dakar - but the team still has a stack of work to do before the flag drops.
"Our biggest job right now is to pack all the spares and equipment into our two T5 support trucks," he explained. "It's a daunting prospect, but it's a vital part of the process, because once we're out there we need to be able to lay our hands on any part or tool at a moment's notice."
STRICT REGULATIONS
Once that's done, he and the crews will have to attend a comprehensive scrutineering session at race headquarters in Buenos Aires. The 2016 Toyota Dakar Rally squad's three Hiluxes will be manned by former Dakar winner Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz, current South African Cross-Country champion Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie, and Saudi racing sensation Yazeed Al-Rajhi, with experienced navigator Timo Gottschalk in the hot seat to balance Al-Rajhi's gonzo driving style.
Not only the Hiluxes but also the three crews will have to conform to the strict - and rigorously enforced - Dakar Rally regulations, before receiving the all-important 'scrute stickers' that will allow them to take part in the ceremonial start proceedings on 2 January.
The 2016 Dakar Rally will see competitors start in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, travel north through Argentina and into Bolivia, before heading back to Rosario in Argentina for the finish on 16 January.
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