A Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport, part of the Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body (TLC) rally team, has secured victory in the production car category at the Dakar Rally. The vehicle was shod in Toyo’s Open Country M/T-R tires, which the tire maker has supplied to Toyota Auto Body for its pickup trucks and SUVs.
Having supported TLC’s Dakar Rally participation since 2021, Toyo renewed its sponsorship agreement with Toyota last year. Leveraging its off-road rallying technology, Toyo developed and supplied the Open Country M/T-R for two Land Cruiser 300 GR Sport vehicles specifically designed for the Dakar Rally 2024. According to the company, the tire enhances driving performance on challenging terrains like rocks and deserts while incorporating sustainable materials for 50% of its total weight to minimize environmental impact.
The Dakar Rally 2024, which took place January 5-19, covered approximately 8,000km from Al Ula to Yanbu and featured demanding dune stages. Despite the challenging conditions, the excellent rough road performance of Toyo’s product supported the TLC team, with both cars completing the race. In the production car category, the vehicle driven by Akira Miura and Mayeul Barbet claimed first place, marking TLC’s 11th consecutive victory in this category. Ronald Basso and Jean Michel Polato secured second place.
TLC manager Yuji Kakutani commented, “In order to finish the race as the difficulty of the competition increases year by year, we need tires that can make the most of the performance of the vehicle.”
“The Dakar Rally 2024 was the toughest course I have ever experienced,” said Miura. “The Open Country M/T-R supported the car with its high durability and driving performance, giving the driver confidence.”
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