The start of the 2024 Dakar Rally is getting close and both manufacturers and teams are gearing up for their entries to the endurance event. Hino in particular is excited for next year’s Dakar as it will be its 33rd time entering the event. Entering as Hino Team Sugawara, Hino is entering with a mission to develop trucks that excel in three categories, namely, quality, durability, and reliability.
For the upcoming 2024 event, the team has crafted a customized truck utilizing the Hino 600 bonnet truck. The focus of this development is to bolster reliability, precisely address potential risks, and ensure uninterrupted performance, aiming for improved standings. For the 2024 Dakar, the team has specifically targeted enhancements to the cooling efficiency of the truck's engine head. This area was identified as a primary factor contributing to the recurrent engine cooling system failures encountered during the Dakar Rally 2023. Additionally, proactive measures have been taken to mitigate other potential issues, reinforcing the overall robustness of the vehicle.
"We believe that the Dakar Rally is the ultimate stage where we can truly demonstrate 'total support' which is what keeps our customers' vehicles up and running. In order to enable team members to perform at the highest levels, we introduced an air-conditioned trailer homes for the Dakar Rally 2024, providing an environment where team members can rest well out of the wind and rain. I'm sure that members will realize how being well-prepared leads to better results."
As for its specs, the Hino 600 truck that will face the Dakar Rally is powered by a Hino A09C-TI engine. This four-stroke straight-six diesel has a displacement of 8.8 liters and can generate 789 hp at 2,800 rpm and a monstrous 2,430 Nm of torque. This beefcake of an engine will be pulling 8,290 kg with an 800-liter fuel tank transferring power to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. The team is composed of Teruhito Sugawara as the driver, Yuji Mochizuki as the navigator, and mechanics Tsuyoshi Fukuda and Akinobu Saito.
