The Toyota Hilux DKR T1+ developed by Hallspeed is probably the highest rally raid car at present, having received back-to-back Dakar Rallies and the 2022 World Rally-Raid Championship with Nasser Al-Attiyah. Nevertheless, T1+ vehicles are additionally costly and entries due to this fact usually come from groups with manufacturing unit help reminiscent of Al-Attiyah’s Toyota Gazoo Racing and Overdrive Racing.
On Wednesday, TreasuryONE Motorsport and WCT Engineering revealed a brand new model of the Hilux T1+ that’s supposed to be extra inexpensive and simpler to know for privateers. Hennie de Klerk and co-driver Adriaan Roets will début the car throughout the 2023 TIORC Inland Off Street Championship in South Africa earlier than taking it to the 2024 Dakar Rally.
Whereas the WCT/TreasuryONE Hilux shares a lot of the identical anatomy as its Hallspeed counterpart, it’s constructed to be extra sturdy in order that much less in depth upkeep is required. This elevated rudimentary nature additionally makes it simpler for privateers, who would have much less experience than skilled manufacturing unit groups, to make repairs and essential changes throughout races.
The WCT Hilux operates on a V8 engine versus the Hallspeed’s turbocharged V6, which is quicker than the usual V8 however WCT Engineering director Stuart Thompson famous is “extra advanced and tough to tune and run for a privateer.” WCT’s mannequin additionally makes use of twin damper suspensions, that are extra dependable than the only damper system of the Hallspeed truck.
“The remainder of our Hilux is way the identical because the Hallspeed automotive, albeit a reasonably main growth of our current T1 small wheel automotive,” continued Thompson. “We hope that the WCT Hilux T1+ will show dependable and comparatively straightforward for a small staff to run.”
De Klerk was the very best ending rookie on the 2018 Dakar Rally, whereas his most up-to-date try got here in 2020.
“The primary WCT Engineering developed Hilux is considerably totally different to the Dakar profitable machines constructed simply across the nook,” mentioned de Klerk. “Our WCT bundle was designed from the outset to be the most suitable choice for the privateer or gentleman racer.”
Hiluxes occupied 4 of the highest 5 T1 general on the Dakar Rally in January with Al-Attiyah profitable three phases and Yazeed Al-Rajhi claiming a fourth. Lucas Moraes scored a podium in his first Dakar by ending third, the perfect such run for a newcomer since 1988.
