Team Toyo conquer 9000 kilometres of Open Country in the world’s toughest race.
With 67 of 137 entered cars finishing the rally, a finish at Dakar is the ultimate badge of honour.
Overcoming a spate of initial bad luck, Team Toyo’s best finisher this year saved his best for last.
Always a crowd favourite, Robby Gordon placed 19th overall, finishing with a spectacular first place for the Rally’s final stage.
Gordon and Navigator Johnny Campbell crossed the line 25 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. The podium topping drive marks Gordon’s 10th stage victory at Dakar, since his first stage victory in 2005.
Robby Gordon at the start of the 2015 Dakar Rally in Buenos Aires.
Dominating the final short stage of the rally, the result was testament to Robby Gordon’s ability and the potency of the bright orange ‘Gordini’, as well as the abuse that Open Country tyres are capable of copping.
“Some of the things that bit us early in the race really put the mentality of the team behind, but one thing about our team is they don’t stop,” said Gordon. “They worked all night long every night and kept rebuilding the car.
“We learned to not give up and the most important thing is that we know our car is capable. We won the last stage of the Rally and ended the 2015 event on a positive note.”
There were times this years Dakar it seemed Guerlain Chicherit would never see Buenos Aires.
A campaign that was marred by mechanical failures and incident fraught stages as the Frenchman sought a clean run. The distinctive Zebra Buggy fought him to the last, driving the whole stage without power steering.
Taking teamwork to the next level, Navigator Alex Winocq had to hang onto the steering wheel to help the driver manage the tight turns to claim 45th place.
Guerlain Chicherit
A tough adventure for Guerlain and his crew but also an incredible 2015. Through all the adversity, they made it, in high spirits and as better racers because of it. The Zebra Buggy will return to the Rally next year a finely tuned machine and let there be no doubt, with reliability on his side, Guerlain has the ability to take the podium.
An unfortunate turn of events saw the Isuzu Motorsports #407 MU-X piloted by Adrian DiLallo and Harry Suzuki bow out following a minor mechanical issue and some rulebook difficulties preventing the team from starting the third stage.
Returning to Perth early this week, an always positive DiLallo praised the tyres performance.
"The tyres were 'Toyorific', as always,” he said.
“Many of the cars that didn't make through the long and rough second stage, didn't make it because they were out of tyres. There's no better feeling than entering a long stage at Dakar with the confidence to attack from the get-go knowing that the tyres will last the distance."
The only all-female team competing in the race, Catherine Houles and Sandrine Ridet also failed to finish, joining Isuzu Motorsports and 34 other car teams that struck out and failed to start the third stage after a brutal and lengthy second stage over stone filled river beds and broken tracks.
The long stage also claimed the life of 39 year old Polish motorcyclist Michal Hernik; A poignant reminder of the very real danger faced by competitors on every single kilometre of this race.
KTM's Toby Price racing in the 2015 Dakar Rally.
A special mention must be made of the gargantuan effort made by Australian rider and Finke Champion Toby Price. His Dakar debut, the 27 year old and his #26 KTM ran every stage at eleven tenths. Bringing home third place, grabbing a podium and stunning the world, Price is the man to watch as he no doubt counts the days until he can once more contest the great desert race.
