PODIUM FILLED BY TOYOTA AT SUGARBELT 400

Toyota Hilux SP (Special Production) vehicles filled the first three places in the Atlas Copco Sugarbelt 400, the third event in the eight-race ABSA South African Off Road championship. Together with this top-three finish came Toyota’s third win in the manufacturers’ category in as many races this year for a show of excellent Hilux reliability and durability in the toughest of conditions.

The Sugarbelt 400 is traditionally one of the harder fought events of the season and always presents competitors with a tough challenge. The mixed terrain that takes competitors through cane fields and forest sections rarely provides an easy passage. This year extreme dust caused by near drought conditions in the area impeded any competitor forced to run close behind another vehicle and was ultimately a deciding factor in the results.

Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst brought their Hilux in just a minute an six seconds ahead of the Castrol Team Toyota Hilux of Duncan Vos and Rob Howie with the second Castrol Team Toyota Hilux of Anthony Taylor and Robin Houghton following them across the line.

The die was cast when Visser brought his Hilux in just one second ahead of the Castrol Team Toyota Hilux of Taylor with Duncan Vos just another nine seconds behind at the end of Friday’s prologue. With the vehicles this close after 100 kilometres of running there was little chance of escaping the dust behind the leader.

“With just a second between us we started right on Chis’ bumper. We had to try and take the lead within the first kilometre or so on Saturday but Chris was really committed and we had no chance to get through,” says Anthony Taylor. “We lost brake pressure and had to top the fluid up on the first time though the DSP (Designated Service Park) and that cost us a bit of time, but we rejoined just behind Duncan. At times the sunlight reflecting through the dust hanging in the forest section made it very difficult to see the route ahead so we had to slow right down and really rely on the guys ahead of us having a problem, to move ahead.”

Taking up the chase for the lead, Duncan Vos was impeded just as much by the dust. “We could get up really close to Chris Visser but not close enough to pass. During the first pass through the west loop on Saturday I realised that there was really only one place to try and pass Chris but I didn’t quite get that right. On the second pass through that loop Chris wised to my plan so the opportunity was lost. It was simply too dangerous to force a way past in the conditions so we opted for a safe second and points on the board rather than a crash into the bushes and a non-finish.”

“Once again the guys at the shop used the break between the Toyota Dealer event in Lydenburg and the Sugarbelt to continue improving our vehicles,” says team principal Glyn Hall. “We moved up another notch in the results with a close fought second and third place and brought both vehicles home without any major issues. We have made big strides with the handling and the niggling problems that we have had and the Castrol Team Toyota Hilux is now fast and reliable. There is still work to be done but we are really competitive now. It was really frustrating to watch the guys try and get ahead of Chris Visser in the dust knowing they had the performance to do this. To his credit Chris Visser drove with real commitment and kept it all together at the head of the field.

“Rest assured we will use the break through until the Sun City event in mid-July to hone the performance of the Hilux a bit more. This event is close to home for our partners Imperial and the Innovation Group, and we look forward to them joining us for an exciting event.”

STORY FROM TOYOTA