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Issue #16:June 10, 2024
In preparation for Dakar Rally 2025, TLC will be conducting rally car development testing in Morocco on the African continent for approximately two weeks starting in mid-June.
For the 2024 rally, rather than working solo, the team worked together with the production vehicle development team to take on the challenge of developing a rally car with the aim to clear all stages, which they were unable to achieve in the 2023 rally. Through their combined efforts, TLC was able to clear all stages and achieve its 11th consecutive victory in the Production Car category, bringing them back to glory from the 2023 rally.
However, Dakar Rally is becoming increasingly difficult every year, and the course for 2025 rally is expected to be even more difficult and demanding. Based on the experience gained in the previous rally, we will continue to improve the suspension and tires, which were jointly developed with TOYO TIRE Corporation and TLC, with the aim of further enhancing driving performance. In addition, countermeasures addressing issues faced in the previous rally will be evaluated on various road surfaces in Morocco, which are similar to those found in the Dakar Rally, in order to improve reliability and durability. By working to further improve the driving performance, reliability, and durability of the Land Cruiser, we will toughen our rally cars to make even better Land Cruisers.
A new mechanic, Tetsuya Sonda from Fukuoka Toyota Corporation, joined TLC in April this year and will also be a part of this test to improve the team's capability to charge through the grueling two weeks that lie ahead.
In addition, scenes and progress of the development testing will be shared on official TLC social media accounts, so stay tuned for updates. TLC is also keen to deliver the atmosphere from the test site in an immersive and real-time manner through live streaming.
TLC aims to make ever better cars based on motorsports. Together with the Land Cruiser production car development team, we will continue to share information while providing feedback on future Land Cruiser manufacturing. As always, your continued support is very much appreciated by the team.