Engineering News — December 08, 2017

T

oyota Gazoo Racing South

Africa (SA) has announced a

three­car line­up for Dakar

2018. All three vehicles have been
      produced in South Africa.
      The Japanese manufacturer first
      fielded a Toyota Hilux in the Dakar
      rally in 2012. The team could not
      secure a podium position in 2017,
      following its third spot in 2016.
      Toyota stalwart and former Dakar
      winner Giniel de Villiers will again
      partner with German navigator Dirk
      von Zitzewitz. The pair won the race
      in 2009, securing four podium finishes
      in the eight years since their victory.
      De Villiers recently clinched the
      South African Cross­Country Series
      championship with a round to spare,
      with navigator Dennis Murphy beside him.
      De Villiers/Von Zitzewitz will be joined
      in the Dakar line­up by Qatar’s Nasser Al
      Attiyah and French navigator Mathieu
      Baumel. The pair also raced with Toyota
      Gazoo Racing SA at Dakar 2017, winning the
      opening stage and leading the Dakar before
      retiring on Stage 3. Al Attiyah and Baumel
      won their fourth motorsport body Fédération
      Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Cross­
      Country World Cup this year – their third in
      a Toyota Hilux.

“The Toyota Hilux has a reputation for

reliability and durability,” says Al Attiyah.

“This new version is sure to take all the best

characteristics of the previous model and

deliver new levels of handling and balance,

thanks to its innovative design.”

The third crew in Toyota Gazoo Racing

SA’s line­up will be Dutch driver Bernard

ten Brinke, who will have French navigator

Michel Périn beside him in the Toyota Hilux.

Ten Brinke is no stranger to the Dakar Rally,

having taken part since 2012.

The three crews will all be driving the all­

new Toyota Hilux, which features a mid­

engine layout and a fresh suspension geometry.

The new car conforms to the latest rules

set out by the FIA, and will race with a 38

mm air restrictor in Dakar 2018. “The FIA

has been working hard to try to balance the

performance of the turbodiesel­powered cars

and the naturally aspirated V8s, such as ours,”

says Toyota Gazoo Racing SA team principal

Glyn Hall.

“This is an ongoing process, and,

while neither camp will probably ever

be entirely happy with the rules, we

are confident that the latest changes

give us a better shot at Dakar 2018.”

The bigger restrictor, 12% increase

in suspension travel and lower weight,

is sure to play a big role, as Dakar 2018

starts in the big dunes of Peru, where

the soft sand will sap the Toyota V8 of

power. The race then moves to Bolivia,

where the stages take place at extreme

altitudes, before finally descending

into northern Argentina for the final

leg of the race.

The fortieth edition of the Dakar

Rally starts in the Peruvian capital of

Lima on January 6, and ends in the

Argentine city of Cordoba on January

20. “The Dakar Rally is undeniably the world’s
    toughest automotive race,” notes Hall.
    “The terrain, temperatures, altitude and
    navigation all play major roles. But to us it is
    also the ultimate challenge, and we are looking
    forward to continuing our quest for glory this
    coming January.”
    The Dakar Rally brings together more
    than 500 competitors from as many as 60
    different nationalities. The 15­day race takes
    place in three coun tries and covers more than
    10 000 km.

habitually trigger growth in franchising and

innovation in franchising systems.

“In 2017, this is especially true of the franchise

sector within the automotive aftermarket

industry.”

Gordon adds that these results are “not in

any way just a flash in the pan; we have been

researching and tracking franchising for more

than 20 years and, over the period, franchising

has consistently proven itself to be the ideal

business expansion mechanism that reduces

new business risks, stimulates the economy

and creates jobs”.

The ‘Franchise Factor’ research also indicates

that 40% of franchisees in the automotive

aftermarket are husband-and-wife teams. Also,

about 13% are women and 30% black.

“Franchising is the route to meaningful eco­

nomic participation for the majority of South

African citizens,” notes Gordon.

“It creates capacity within the broader

economic landscape at all levels through a

proven business format, support, mentorship,

skills transfer and enterprise development.

“Bottomline... franchising is a lower-risk

oppor tunity directed at offering black entre-

preneurs entry into the mainstream of economic

activity by making small- and medium-sized

franchised businesses available to them.”

The ‘Franchise Factor’ research report on

the automotive aftermarket covers a number of

sectors, including body repairs and services;

glass repairs and services; maintenance and

repairs; wash and valet; specialised fitment; tyre

fitment and services; parts supply; and vehicle

tracking services, as well as battery repair and

replacement.

The majority of the 79 franchised systems in

the 2017 report – 28 – have ten or fewer stores,

while only two have more than 251 stores.

Gordon says, while the automotive aftermarket

is “a flagship” in terms of sustainability, it can

improve its marketing efforts significantly.

14 ENGINEERING NEWS | December 8–14, 2017 RA

NEWS&INSIGHT

DAKAR 2018

Made in SA

Toyota Gazoo Racing SA revs up for Dakar 2018

with three­car line­up

RACING HILUX

The new Dakar Hilux features a mid-engine layout and a fresh

suspension geometry

BENDETA GORDON

The estimated turnover of the 79 franchised

systems in 2017 is R32-billion

• From page 13

IRMA VENTER | CREAMER MEDIA SENIOR DEPUTY EDITOR