DAKAR 2013 - 2 x Patrols entered

[Alex Roux]

Also, LSD always work right? No need to get them activated with a vacuum?!

450 litres for the TB4.8.
That thing must drink a lot!

[Gerrit Loubser]

hmmmm...speaking of which...... didn't see any cruisers on the Dakar.......

They are there. Have a look at the results so far for the T2.2 class (diesel powered production vehicles):

1st, 340, FOJ (ESP)/SANTAMARÍA (ARG), TOYOTA Prado D4D 150 Series (SWB)
2nd, 342, ALHERAIZ (UAE)/ALKENDI (UAE), TOYOTA Prado D4D 120 Series
3rd , 343, GIBON (FRA)/MIURA (JPN), TOYOTA Land Cruiser D4D 200 Series
4th, 341, MITSUHASHI (JPN)/GUEHENNEC (FRA), TOYOTA Land Cruiser D4D 200 Series
5th, 359, YACOPINI (ARG)/TORLASCHI (ARG), TOYOTA Fortuner D4D
6th, 367, HALPERN (ARG)/PULENTA (ARG), TOYOTA Fortuner D4D
7th, 351, FERYN (BEL)/DE LEEUW (BEL), TOYOTA Land Cruiser D4D 200 Series
8th, 455, SEBESTYÉN (HUN)/BOGNÁR (HUN), TOYOTA Land Cruiser D4D 200 Series
9th, 405, PÓCSIK (HUN)/FARKAS (HUN)/SZALLER (HUN), TOYOTA Land Cruiser D4D 200 Series
10th, 434, GIRARD (FRA)/SIMONIN (FRA), TOYOTA Land Cruiser 100 Series TD
11th, 426, RICHARD (FRA)/LEROUX (FRA), TOYOTA Prado D4D 120 Series


There are only the two Patrol 4.8s contesting class T2.1 (petrol powered production vehicles) and the Patrol that is leading class T2.1 is currently behind the 7th placed 200 Series in class T2.2 (diesel powered production vehicles)...Of course it is early days, yet.

It is interesting that there don't seem to be any petrol powered Toyotas nor diesel powered Nissans in T2.

[ricster]

ha ha... yeah I ate my words last night when I watched the Dakar. There was a few minutes of a few cruiser guys.

Yeah it is odd with the petrol vs diesel???.... Considering its their first Dakar...they are doing ok !!!

[Traveler]

A 4.8 Patrol will be my vehicle of choice for the Dakar.

[ricster]

Absolutely.... R150K entrance fee + 1x 4.8 Patrol + suspension and chip upgrade + 450L fuel tank and lots of money to buy fuel along the way, and you're in like a bad rash....

[Traveler]

Absolutely.... R150K entrance fee + 1x 4.8 Patrol + suspension and chip upgrade + 450L fuel tank and lots of money to buy fuel along the way, and you're in like a bad rash....

Soos warm molasse.

[Alex Roux]

Gerrit

I guess one should also argue that given the number of Toyotas in the competition(including it seems the first 12 in 2.1), they are also more likely to have better dirvers. This competition is not only about the car but also the driver and team.

But then succcess feeds on itself too....i.e. more drive the Prados and LCs in the cometition given past successes etc.

[Gerrit Loubser]

This competition is not only about the car but also the driver and team.

Very true.

What also amazes me is that there don't seem to be any Pajeros in the T2 class. A year or two back there were plenty of Generation 3 Pajeros contesting the T2 class.

[ricster]

ha ha... yeah it probably goes in cycles..... next year there will just be Patrols....... ( then I woke up from the dream....... )

[Peter Connan]

I suspect that the 235/85R16's are a control tire. I also suspect that it is in reality it is a handicap for the heavier vehicles (like the Patrols and 200 cruisers).

I also suspect that power output is restricted by intake restrictors (a common phonomenon in racing), giving the diesels an almost-unfair advantage.

Once upon a time I had dreams of doing the Dakar in a turretless Rooikat