TOYOTA LAND CRUISER DOMINATES DAKAR RALLY
Toyota has dominated the 2007 Dakar Rally, taking seven of the top 10 positions including the top three places in the competitive T2 category for mass-produced all-terrain vehicles.
Jun Mitsuhashi won the T2 category at the wheel of a Toyota LandCruiser HJD 100, finishing nearly two-and-a-half hours ahead of his nearest rival, Ronan Chabot, who piloted another LandCruiser.
Toyota LandCruisers also filled third, fourth, sixth, ninth and 10th positions in the T2 class.
The 15-day 2007 Dakar Rally commenced in Lisbon, and covered 4309km over 14 special stages and 3600km in transport sections for a total distance of just under 8000km.
The original Paris-Dakar Rally was first held in 1979, but the French capital ceased to be the event's starting point in 1995 before returning for 1998 and 2001.
Toyota previously won the Dakar diesel production class in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2005.
The latest results again confirm Toyota LandCruiser's superior reliability and durability in the world's toughest off-road test of machine.
The Toyota LandCruiser has been Australia's number one choice in the large 4WD category for several decades.
The Toyota LandCruiser first came to prominence in Australia from 1959 during the construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme.
Sir Leslie Thiess of Thiess Contractors recognised the LandCruiser's potential when his company won contracts to build tunnels, dams and roads throughout the scheme.
He secured the Australian franchise for Toyota and introduced 13 LandCruisers to the Snowy fleet, beginning a long tradition for Toyota in the region and around Australia.
Toyota engineers from Japan visited the Snowy region several times to test parts in their quest to make the LandCruiser durable in all manner of conditions.
An all-new Toyota LandCruiser will be launched later in 2007.
Source: Toyota Press Release
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