New bid to tame Dakar

One of the biggest surprises at this year's Johannesburg International Motor Show was the announcement that Toyota Motorsport and Imperial Toyota would enter the Dakar Rally.

Two locally-developed Hilux Double Cabs, driven by former Dakar winner Giniel de Villiers and four-times SA off-road champion Duncan Vos, will contest the gruelling 9000km rally. The event takes place from January 1 to 15 next year in Argentina, Chile and Peru.

The team will be under the management of team principal Glyn Hall and sponsored by Imperial Toyota together with Duxbury Netgear and the Innovation Group.

Adding a bit of humour to the occasion, was Toyota South Africa president and chief executive Dr Johan van Zyl, who introduced the two unidentified helmeted drivers, Vos and De Villiers as "the Black Stigs", in reference to the BBC's Top Gear driver, who never speaks or takes off his helmet.

"We are very excited and proud to be involved in the 2012 Dakar Rally through Imperial Toyota," he said.

"It is a legendary event and the longest and toughest motor race in the world. It is the supreme test of man and machine and we will be taking on this challenge with a proudly South African team and a racing version of the best-selling bakkie in South Africa."

Van Zyl added that it was particularly pleasing to be making this historic announcement in the year of Toyota South Africa's 50th and Imperial Toyota's 40th anniversary.

Hall, who will be managing an all-South African team with the exception of German co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz, is under no illusions about the severity of the challenge.

"We've been there before and we know what to expect. It's a tough event with day-long stages each day and is a massive logistical challenge.

"We've assembled a great team and are privileged to have Giniel with us on this first Dakar with Toyota in the top class. He is one of the few people to have won the Dakar and is rated as one of the top rally-raid drivers in the world. We're confident we can do South Africa proud."

De Villiers will be paired with Von Zitzewitz, who navigated the 39-year-old Stellenbosch resident to his historic Dakar victory in 2009.

The 42-year-old from Karlshof is a multiple former German motorcycle enduro champion and was rookie of the year on a KTM in the 1997 Dakar Rally. He has competed in eight Dakars as a co-driver, the last four with De Villiers, who is a veteran of nine Dakar races.

Navigating for Vos, 50, will be his regular national championship co-driver Rob Howie, 38, who is general manager of Toyota Motorsport.

A third Hilux has been built for top Argentine driver Orlando Terranova.

This vehicle was air-freighted to Europe this week. The other two Toyotas, which are currently contesting the local off-road championship in the hands of Vos and Anthony Taylor, will be flown to Argentina after the final round in November.