Race Report 2012

Dakar Rally 2012
The HINO 500 Series Wins Three Straight Championships in the Under 10-litre Class!
Both trucks finished in Lima, Peru, making this the 21st course finish for Hino Motors since it first entered this race.

2012

In this year's race, which was the fourth time that this rally had been held in South America, the contestants started from Mar del Plata on the Atlantic coast of Argentina on January 1, and crossed the Andes Mountains before entering Chile. After a rest day in Copiapo on January 8, the contestants raced northward along the Pacific coast, entering Peru, and then finishing at Lima on January 15, covering 8,336 km in total (of which 4,120 km were competition segments). While most of the team's rivals were larger trucks, both Hino trucks maintained their own pace and steadily improved their positions. On January 3, Car 2 finished top in the Under 10-litre class, with Car 1 following close behind. In Peru, Car 2 encountered problems with its drive train and became immobile after the competition segment. However, it was towed by Car 1, which had been racing behind, to a neutral zone where servicing was permitted. The crew met up with the team of Hino mechanics there, and replacements were made on the spot.

The two HINO 500 Series trucks continued to race a solid race, thanks largely to their teamwork. Both trucks improved their positions in the last major obstacle, the large dune segments in western Peru, with Car 2 finishing in Lima 9th overall and 1st in the Under 10-litre class, and Car 1 24th overall and 3rd in its class. With this being the 21st consecutive rally entered by Hino Motors since its inaugural entry in 1991, both trucks were able to finish and achieve high overall rankings and their third consecutive championship in the Under 10-litre class. Strong evidence of the true capabilities of Hino Motors to the world.

2012

Members of "HINO TEAM SUGAWARA" in Dakar Rally 2012

Car 1
Driver: Yoshimasa SUGAWARA
Navigator: Hiroyuki Sugiura

Car 2
Driver: Teruhito SUGAWARA
Navigator: Seiichi SUZUKI

Mechanic:
Naoya Nakano (Hiroshima Hino Motors)
Yuya Inaba (Miyagi Hino Motors)
Masahiro Nakata (Tokyo Hino Motors)
Seiji Maeda (Aichi Hino Motors)

Route Map

Route Map

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