The Dakar 2009 Race Report (Stage 10, January 13)

Car 2 once again experienced trouble in the loop course.

Copiapo to Copiapo
Connection 20 km, SS 476 km, Total: 496 km

Car 2 (with Teruhito Sugawara and Seiichi Suzuki) of Hino Team Sugawara, which encountered powertrain trouble during the stage on the 12th, was safely repaired by mechanics working all night. Despite this, it was again challenged during the race on the 13th. The loop course started from and returned to Copiapo in Chile, driving over the Atacama Desert. The distance of this stage was shortened from 660 km to 476 km. Needless to say, most of the road surfaces were sand, and the latter part of the course was over highly difficult dunes. Although Car 2, the Hino 500 Series vehicle, drove in rendezvous with Car 1, Car 2 got lost driving over complicated terrain so difficult to understand from the road book. Then Car 2 stopped before CP3 (Check Point 3) due to an abnormal noise. When the vehicle was checked, it became apparent that once again the rear differential was damaged. The rear drive was again disconnected, and Car 2 continued on front wheel drive. Although crossing the dunes on two-wheel drive was extremely difficult, it tactfully drove through the obligatory GPS points. Car 2 arrived at the bivouac at around 4:00am in 45th place, and in 18th place in the Camion division overall (as of January 15.) The Hino mechanics once again promptly worked on the vehicle at the bivouac. It departed Copiapo at start time, without any delay. As the race on this day was cancelled due to bad weather, Car 2 moved to Fiambala with Car 1, which safely arrived at Copiapo in 15th place, and in 29th overall (as of January 15.)

Teruhito Sugawara (Car 2 Driver)
“We were very careful of gaps and drove slowly, but we encountered trouble once again.”

Seiichi Suzuki (Car 2 Navigator)
“As we promptly stopped the vehicle right after we heard the abnormal noise, the damaged part did not affect other parts. As we went through all the GPS points and CPs, we assume that we will not receive a penalty.”
 

The Team and the assistance car waiting for the arrival of the Hino 500 Series vehicle at the bivouac in Atacama.