Latest information on Hino Team Sugawara

New modifications and FIA vehicle registration to comply with new FIA regulations

Vehicles that race in the Dakar Rally must comply with official FIA regulations. Moreover, because these regulations have been revised, all contestants have begun registering vehicles that meet these new rules. Although these regulations are specified in text and drawings, the race between contestants to gather information and prepare has been intensifying because matters not included in these specifications cannot be determined and manufacturers - who constitute the backbone of the race - continue to present their own opinions on a wide range of matters. Vehicle regulations have not yet been firmly established and the situation remains quite fluid; when Kamaz presented their opinions on steering damper construction, FIA felt it had to conduct interviews with all of the manufacturers.

Hino Team Sugawara has also had to verify various matters relating to new modification plans with FIA, and has occasionally presented opinions to FIA jointly with other contestants. In Japan, manufacturers have established a panel to strengthen their voice with FIA, and have established a rule that says vehicle registration applications to FIA must be submitted via the panel.

Hino Team Sugawara filed an application with the panel (JAF Motor Sport Manufacturers panel) on 6 August, which was approved. The next step in the plan involves submitting to a review by the FIA Cross Country Technical working group on 11 September. Once this is completed, FIA officials will visit Japan to conduct an inspection on 30 October (for the first time since we started participating in the rally).

Vehicle fabrication meeting with representatives from Hino and other organizations.