In the same week that Japanese truck brand Hino copped some massive fines in the USA for falsifying emissions records, the truck maker celebrated the successful completion of its 34th consecutive Dakar Rally, with the company’s official Dakar race team, Hino Team Sugawara, finishing in 13th in the truck division of the two week cross country rally through the wilds of the Saudi Arabian desert.
Hino said the result showcased the durability which brand is renowned for.
The 47th Dakar Rally was run from 3rd to 17th January across 12 gruelling stages over 7800 kilometres, the Dakar Rally.
One of the toughest tests this year was the marathon 48 hour Chrono stage which saw competitors race through two days of flat out driving across the dunes and sandy tracks in the world’s largest continuous desert, the Rub’ al Khali, or ‘Empty Quarter’, with crews having to pitch their own tents in the desert to camp through the mandatory overnight stop. The running of the 2025 Chrono stage followed its successful introduction last year.
Hino said the bonneted 600 Series truck was piloted by Teruhito Sugawara, Team Director of Hino Team Sugawara, who was joined onboard by co-drivers Hirokazu Somemiya, and Yuji Mochizuki with support from Hino mechanics.
“As a sponsor of Hino Team Sugawara for the last 12 years, Hino Australia is thrilled with the team’s result – their bonneted 600 Series truck was extremely competitive against its more powerful 13-litre rivals,” said Richard Emery, president and CEO of Hino Australia.
“Hino trucks are renowned for their quality, durability and reliability, and a 34th successive Dakar Rally finish is testament to this,” Emery continued.
The Hino Dakar Rally 600 Series is equipped with full-time 4WD and is powered by a 9-litre direct injection, turbocharged and intercooled A09C engine. The engine produces a maximum output of 588kW at 2800rpm with a maximum torque of 2430Nm at 1600rpm. In Australia, a production version of the A09C engine is available in the Hino 700 Series.
