The Toyota Hilux DKR T1+ evolved via Hallspeed is in all probability the highest rally raid car nowadays, having received back-to-back Dakar Rallies and the 2022 International Rally-Raid Championship with Nasser Al-Attiyah. Then again, T1+ vehicles are additionally pricey and entries due to this fact usually come from groups with manufacturing unit beef up reminiscent of Al-Attiyah’s Toyota Gazoo Racing and Overdrive Racing.
On Wednesday, TreasuryONE Motorsport and WCT Engineering published a brand new model of the Hilux T1+ this is meant to be extra inexpensive and more straightforward to seize for privateers. Hennie de Klerk and co-driver Adriaan Roets will début the car right through the 2023 TIORC Inland Off Street Championship in South Africa ahead of taking it to the 2024 Dakar Rally.
Whilst the WCT/TreasuryONE Hilux stocks a lot of the similar anatomy as its Hallspeed counterpart, it’s constructed to be tougher in order that much less in depth repairs is needed. This greater rudimentary nature additionally makes it more straightforward for privateers, who would have much less experience than skilled manufacturing unit groups, to make maintenance and essential changes right through races.
The WCT Hilux operates on a V8 engine as opposed to the Hallspeed’s turbocharged V6, which is quicker than the usual V8 however WCT Engineering director Stuart Thompson famous is “extra complicated and hard to music and run for a privateer.” WCT’s fashion additionally makes use of dual damper suspensions, which can be extra dependable than the only damper machine of the Hallspeed truck.
“The remainder of our Hilux is way the similar because the Hallspeed automobile, albeit a moderately main construction of our current T1 small wheel automobile,” endured Thompson. “We are hoping that the WCT Hilux T1+ will turn out dependable and rather simple for a small group to run.”
De Klerk was once the easiest completing rookie on the 2018 Dakar Rally, whilst his most up-to-date strive got here in 2020.
“The primary WCT Engineering evolved Hilux is relatively other to the Dakar successful machines constructed simply across the nook,” stated de Klerk. “Our WCT bundle was once designed from the outset to be the most suitable option for the privateer or gentleman racer.”
Hiluxes occupied 4 of the highest 5 T1 general on the Dakar Rally in January with Al-Attiyah successful 3 phases and Yazeed Al-Rajhi claiming a fourth. Lucas Moraes scored a podium in his first Dakar via completing 3rd, the most efficient such run for a newcomer since 1988.
