HOME > Latest News > 2025 > Issue #2
Issue #2:January 5, 2025
On January 4th, the 2025 Dakar Rally commenced its first stage on a 413 km loop course set west of Bisha for the start of the full-scale competition.
TLC, competing in the Stock (Production Car) category with their two Land Cruiser 300s, saw car #501 with Ronald Basso and Jean-Pierre Garcin finish 102nd overall in the Car category and 1st in the Stock (Production Car) category. Car #500 with Akira Miura and Jean-Michel Polato arrived with a time difference of 1 minute and 38 seconds, finishing 104th overall and 2nd in the category, making it a promising start for the team.
The day's competition began with an 86 km liaison (transfer section) to the SS (special stage) start point southeast of the bivouac in Bisha. The 413 km SS formed a large clockwise loop, finishing west of the bivouac. The terrain alternated between sandy areas in dry riverbeds (wadis) and hard rocky surfaces. The crew faced a challenging day with visibility reduced by dust clouds and rough, rocky sections causing significant jolts. Additionally, a 13 km section between the 243 km to the 256 km mark was excluded from the competition, designated as a transfer section on sealed roads to be covered within a specified time (15 minutes for the Production Car category). The first half was slow due to the trees which had to be avoided, but the final stretch after the transfer section was relatively easier on wide off-road paths.
Based on the results of the previous day's prologue run, TLC’s two cars started the SS with car #500 in 128th position and car #501 in 131st. Car #501 got stuck in the sand at the 56 km mark due to poor visibility caused by dust but continued without further issues. Meanwhile, car #500, which was ahead, got stuck in a rocky ditch at the 195 km mark but was soon rescued by car #501, minimizing the lost time. Car #501 then led the way, and both cars reached the finish line safely just before sunset.
The next stage, THE 48H CHRONO STAGE, will take place over two days on January 5th and 6th, covering a 971 km SS on another loop course starting in Bisha. This stage is an evolved version of the traditional marathon stage, where participants cover one stage over two days without mechanical inspections and maintenance or parts supply. The bivouac for the first night will be set up at one of six locations along the course by the organizers, and participants will spend the night at the first bivouac they reach after 5 pm. On the second morning, they will restart from the same location and aim for the finish line.
THE 48H CHRONO STAGE places even greater stress on vehicles and drivers than the marathon stage, increasing the likelihood of issues. TLC conducted thorough inspections and maintenance late into the night in preparation for the crucial second stage of the early half of the rally.
The 48-hour Chrono Stage rally report for stage 2 will be released on January 6. An update will be provided at the end of the stage. There will be no update for the first half. We appreciate your understanding.
Miura (driver): We encountered a couple of issues today, such as getting stuck, but I felt that my instincts and the car's pace were in sync, allowing us to have a smooth run. Tomorrow, we’re already getting into THE 48H CHRONO STAGE, but I plan to stay calm and complete it without overthinking things.
Basso (driver): Things could have been better today, but we’re OK. We encountered a minor issue when we got stuck due to the dust, but there were no punctures, and the car is running smoothly. We will continue to drive carefully in THE 48H CHRONO STAGE starting tomorrow.