Hino Motors to Entry in Dakar Rally 2020
Event
Nov 26, 2019
-- Teams to race in first-time host country, Saudi Arabia --
From Jan 5 to 17, Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hereafter "Hino." HQ: Hino, Tokyo. President & CEO: Yoshio Shimo) will be racing as HINO TEAM SUGAWARA (director: Teruhito Sugawara) in Dakar Rally 2020, the first event since its relocation to Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Yoshimasa Sugawara, who has directed the team for roughly 30 years, has retired from the Dakar Rally at the end of the previous event. Mr. Teruhito Sugawara, who succeeds him as the team's new director, will drive an upgraded and matured Car 1 (based on the Hino 500 series), and Mr. Ikuo Hanawa, who was called in to succeed Mr. Yoshimasa as driver, will drive the team's new Car 2 (based on the Hino 600 series, developed specifically for the North American market) that features a bonnet-type cab and automatic transmission.
Both vehicles will be converted from two-seaters--the layout used up until the previous season--to three-seaters to allow an experienced mechanic to ride along with the driver and navigator. This will help boost the crews' ability to respond to problems and race more aggressively.
The team has matured both of their trucks after their real-world testing in Silk Way Rally 2019 this July. In taking on this Dakar Rally 2020 in Saudi Arabia, which will be in uncharted territory, the team will also be reinforcing their roster of mechanics and support members.
■ Racing trucks (Photographed Oct 2019: Car 1 on the left and Car 2 on the right in both photos)
Car 1 Driver: Teruhito Sugawara |
Car 2 Driver: Ikuo Hanawa |
|
---|---|---|
Base truck |
Hino Ranger (HINO500 Series) |
North America-exclusive model (HINO600 Series) |
Engine model | A09C-TI (w/Turbo intercooler) | |
Engine type | 6-cylinder, 4-cycle inline diesel | |
Displacement | 8.866L | |
Max output/rev | 750PS/2600rpm | |
Max torque/rev | 236kgm/1200rpm | |
Drive type | Full-time 4WD | |
Transmission |
MT (6-speed forward, 1-speed reverse) |
Torque converter AT (6-speed forward, 1-speed reverse) |
Transfer | w/Hi-Lo range switching, w/Center differential lock | |
Tires | XZL+14.00R20 | |
Gross vehicle weight | 7,950kg | 8,200kg |
Length | 6,700mm | 6,620mm |
Width | 2,500mm | |
Height | 3,000mm | 3,100mm |
Wheel base | 4,170mm | |
Fuel tank | 760L |
■ "HINO TEAM SUGAWARA" members (taken in Oct 2019)
<List of members> (20 members as of the end of Oct 2019)
Position | Name | Affiliation |
---|---|---|
Team director and Driver | Teruhito Sugawara | Japan Racing Management CO., LTD. |
Driver | Ikuo Hanawa | Summit Racing Promotions |
Navigator | Hirokazu Somemiya | RallyStream inc. |
Yuji Mochizuki | Hino Motors, Ltd. | |
Yudai Hanawa | Summit Racing Promotions | |
Mayumi Kezuka | Japan Racing Management CO., LTD. | |
Mechanic | Seiichi Suzuki | Japan Racing Management CO., LTD. |
Koji Yoshikawa | Japan Racing Management CO., LTD. | |
Kengo Takasugi | Ken.Factory | |
Koki Seino | Hino Motors, Ltd. | |
Masataka Nishiyama | Hino Motors, Ltd. | |
Shinji Kitagawa | Hino Motors, Ltd. | |
Ryo Ishii | Hino Motors, Ltd. | |
Yasunori Nagata | Higashi Hokkaido Hino Motor Ltd. | |
Keisuke Watanabe | Gunma Hino Motor Ltd. | |
Yasufumi Watanabe | Tokyo Hino Motor Ltd. | |
Koichiro Hoshijima | Okayama Hino Motor Ltd. | |
Support Member | Rumi Ando | Japan Racing Management CO., LTD. |
Shun Konnai | Japan Racing Management CO., LTD. | |
Kazuki Ishida | Hino Motors, Ltd. |
End of release