Car 1 Undergoes Shakedown in Preparation for Rally Mongolia!

Jul 20, 2017

As the Teruhito Sugawara (Driver) and Hiroyuki Sugiura (Navigator) crew of HINO TEAM SUGAWARA’s Car 2 raced in the Silk Way Rally, the Car 1 driver Yoshimasa Sugawara and navigator Mitsugu Takahashi conducted a shakedown for their truck at Hino Motors’ Ibaraki test tracks in preparation for their entry in Rally Mongolia in August. While Yoshimasa Sugawara has a long history of racing this rally, this will be the first time for him to race the rally on a HINO500 Series truck!
In this issue of Dakar Rally News, we will be speaking to the Car 1 crew, as well as Mr. Takatori from Hino Motors who will be joining the team as a mechanic for the first time in roughly 20 years.

Car 1 driven by Yoshimasa Sugawara braves the rough weather in a show of its powerful driving performance.
Car 1 driven by Yoshimasa Sugawara braves the rough weather in a show of its powerful driving performance.

Comments from Driver Yoshimasa Sugawara

― Having driven Car 1, what are your impressions of the truck?

Until last year, Teruhito was the one who raced the Rally Mongolia and he had the tune ups done to his preference, so I mostly stayed away from offering my advice. But this time, I will be racing a HINO500 Series truck in this rally, so things like suspension settings now reflect my input. After having actually driven the truck, I think it has turned out really well.

― That means that, in previous Dakar Rallies, you essentially had no “rehearsals” on Car 1 right?

Yes, that’s right. I think I was about the only driver in the world in that situation (laughs). No Olympic athlete goes into the games without rehearsing. I have been racing the Rally Mongolia on a Jimny but that is completely different from a HINO500 Series truck because it’s so small (laughs). It was good for getting a feel for rally racing though.

― Please tell us about how you feel going into the Rally Mongolia.

This year, the two of us, Mr. Takahashi (Navigator) and I, will be collecting a lot of data to prepare for the Dakar Rally. By driving the Mongolian terrain, we will be able to identify the strengths and shortcomings of the truck. Everything has its strengths and weaknesses, so what we intend to do is maximize our strengths and minimize our weaknesses.

Car 1 undergoing its shakedown
Car 1 undergoing its shakedown
Yoshimasa Sugawara and Mitsugu Takahashi are happy with the truck’s performance.
Yoshimasa Sugawara and Mitsugu Takahashi are happy with the truck’s performance.

Comments from Navigator Mitsugu Takahashi

― Can you tell us about the main upgrades that were made to Car 1 this year, and what your aims were for these?

Our main focus was on introducing a new type of suspension. The suspension system, along with the tires and other elements, absorb the shock from the road surface and this reduces crew fatigue. It also transmits information of the road surface to the driver, as well as being a major element that effects the rigidity of the vehicle overall. We had extensive discussions with Mr. Sugawara for our latest upgrade and decided on a multi-leaf suspension *1. This type of suspension is more rigid compared to tapered leaf type suspensions *2 and requires no rod (torque rod) which was needed in the past for accurately controlling axle and differential gear case movements. Mr. Sugawara was quite impressed in the test drives, so I can’t wait to try this system out in Mongolia.

*1: Multi-leaf suspension: A type of suspension consisting of stacked leaf springs of different lengths.
*2: Tapered leaf suspension: A type of suspension consisting of a leaf spring with thin ends and a thick center area.

― Your truck’s upgrades are different from that of Car 2. Are these determined based on the driver's’ preference?

Yes, they are. When you look into details that relate to driving performance or navigation, you will notice that there are a lot of things that are different between the two trucks. The crews actually take part in the trucks’ construction, so they have been modified to be easy to operate for each individual.

― From your perspective, what are some of the characteristics and strengths of Mr. Sugawara’s driving style?

Yoshimasa-san concentrates all of his senses on the condition of the truck, including the sounds it makes, vibrations and smell. I don’t think there is any other driver with more racing or rally experience and I think his dune driving technique is truly an art. I think his fierce determination to bring the truck back to the finish line without breaking it and the support we get from Hino fans around the world give us―the entire team including Yoshimasa-san and myself ― a definite edge.

― Please tell us about how you feel going into the Rally Mongolia in August with Mr. Yoshimasa Sugawara.

I am very honored to be able to race the Rally Mongolia in August on a HINO500 Series truck. I will give it my best to do as good as or better than Car 2 in the Silk Way Rally.

This year, Car 1 sports multi-leaf suspensions on the front and rear 1.
This year, Car 1 sports multi-leaf suspensions on the front and rear 1.
This year, Car 1 sports multi-leaf suspensions on the front and rear 2.
This year, Car 1 sports multi-leaf suspensions on the front and rear 2.

Comments from Mechanic Hideaki Takatori (Vehicle Planning & Production Engineering Div., Hino Motors)

― You were on the team in 1997 when Hino trucks won the rally with the 1-2-3 sweep in the overall trucks category. What do you remember the most from those times?

What I remember the most is the damage to the fan shroud *3 that happened early in the rally. It was one of those components that you would least expect to break. But with great advice from Mr. Shigemori, our team manager at the time, we were able to work as a tightly knit team to resolve this issue and bring the truck back to the finish line. That is what I remember the most.

*3 Fan shroud: A ring-shaped component that surrounds the cooling fan with very small clearance between fan blade tips to keep airflow from coiling back in.

― The team’s organizational setup is quite different from what it was in 1997. What do you think are the main differences?

At the time, we entered three trucks, two of which were driven by French and Austrian drivers. And two of the trucks had two navigators making for a three man crew including the driver. Both of the current team’s trucks have a two man crew, and I think that through improvements in navigation knowledge, skills and abilities, and above all else, their accumulated experience, they have been able to put together a team that poses a real threat to the leading teams.

― You will be joining the Rally Mongolia team in August with Yoshimasa Sugawara. Can you give us your candid comment on how you feel now?

Even though I have previous experience on the team as a mechanic, the truck’s construction and functions are very different from what they were back then, and I would by lying if I said I wasn’t anxious. So I’m committed to learn all that I can in the short amount of time before we head out for the race so that I can help Mr. Sugawara and Mr. Takahashi drive the truck safely, with peace of mind and make sure the truck wins the championship in this rally!

Yoshimasa Sugawara and Hideaki Takatori (right) pose in front of Car 1.
Yoshimasa Sugawara and Hideaki Takatori (right) pose in front of Car 1.
The Rally Mongolia plate is attached to Car 1.
The Rally Mongolia plate is attached to Car 1.

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