News Release
[Topics / DAKAR] The Dakar 2010 Race Report (Stage 14)
January 16, Santa Rosa (Argentina) - Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Connection 166km, SS 206km, Connection 335km, Total: 707km
Our vehicle completed the final SS and reached the goal in Buenos Aires.
Car 2 of Hino Team Sugawara took the victory in the Production Vehicle Division.
On the 16th of January, the Dakar 2010 held the final course between Santa Rosa and Buenos Aires. The SS was set up along agricultural roads leading to Buenos Aires from Santa Rosa. The course consisted of hard gravel unpaved roads; it was mainly flat with no major changes in altitude. Although the vehicles could drive at high-speed as the roads were mostly straight, there were perpendicular corners where there was a risk of spinning off course or rollover. Only 29 trucks started from the SS in the Truck Division. Almost half of the entrants from the 51 units that started from Buenos Aires in the beginning did not make it to this point in the rally, showing just how stringent the rally was this time. Although Car 1, the Hino 500 Series vehicle of Hino Team Sugawara, was also unfortunately sidelined due to exhaust system troubles, Car 2, driven by Teruhito Sugawara and Seiichi Suzuki, came in 7th in the overall standings in the Truck Division, and kept top positions in both the Production Vehicle Division and in the Class with an engine displacement of below 10 liters, including Modified Trucks. Car 2 finished the last SS with composure and at their own pace, and reached the goal in 11th position in the Truck Division, 5th in the Production Vehicle Division, and 2nd in the Class with an engine displacement of below 10 liters. They were able to maintain their positions in the overall standings. Car 2 drove to Buenos Aires over the 335 km connection. All the rally courses of the past 16 days were formally completed when, about 8:00 p.m., the entrants parked their vehicles in Parc-Fermes in Buenos Aires, next to "The Rural Palace," the same exhibition center used at the beginning of the rally. All the final standings will be formally decided tonight, and the winner's ceremony will be held at a special venue in "The Rural Palace" tomorrow the 17th of January.
Teruhito Sugawara (Car 2 Driver)
We met with a lot of dust driving the SS today and it was quite slippery to drive at high-speed. There were dangerous areas as well; as we began sliding sideways when the wheels were caught in the ditches and ruts, we modified our pace to reach the goal safely. We are feeling a sense of relief as we were able to arrive safely in Buenos Aires.
Seiichi Suzuki (Car 2 Navigator)
Today's course was a high-speed course combining straight roads and perpendicular corners, similar to what we experienced in the first stage last year. There were so many spectators cheering us on, and we are pleased indeed that we could reach the goal safely. Our vehicle encountered no problem at all. For now, we are just relieved to have reached the goal.
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(The rankings in parentheses are in the class with an engine displacement of below 10 liters.)
*The rankings at the time when the report was written might be adjusted afterwards.
Refer to the latest ranking list.
http://www.dakar.com/us/DAKAR/2010/live.html
Try to track the competitors by Iritrack.
(how to use)
http://www.hino-global.com/news_release/160.html
(URL of Iritrack)
http://tracking.dakar.com/ASO/index_us.html
Send the message to HINO TEAM SUGAWARA
http://www.teamsugawara.jp/cgi-bin/tsbbs10.cgi
HINO Dakar official site
http://www.hino-global.com/dakar/index.html
Refer to the Terminology page
http://www.hino-global.com/dakar/about/terminology.html
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| Car 2 proceeding to Parc-Fermes. |
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| Teruhito Sugawara and Seiichi Suzuki firmly shaking hands after safely reaching the goal. |
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| Car 2 arriving at the goal of the connection in "The Rural Palace". |
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| Santa Rosa (Argentina) - Buenos Aires (Argentina) |
