Isuzu Motorsports will unleash a three-pronged, diesel-powered attack on the Australasian Safari next week, hoping to secure a legacy at the event’s last show in WA.
Motorsport veteran and Toyo Tires stalwart Bruce Garland, never one to miss anything related to hard graft and horsepower, will lead Isuzu Motorsports’ triple-stacked charge to claim the prize of ‘First diesel outright winner’.
This will be Garland’s and navigator Harry Suzuki’s 18th time challenging the Australasian Safari as they bid to notch up their sixth victory.
Isuzu Motorsport has placed its stock in several tweaked diesel production cars despite petrol power being the mainstay of the Australasian Safari, and Garland is confident an oiler can turn the tides and make the top step of the podium.
“I still reckon a diesel can win the Safari even though history has so far proved otherwise,” Garland says.
Garland and Suzuki will compete in the same Isuzu D-MAX with which they challenged Dakar in 2013, running in the Safari’s Extreme 4WD (T1) class.
Adrian Di Lallo will take the wheel of the same Isuzu MU-X used by Garland at this year’s Finke, competing in the Production Car (T2) class, with Thai driver OLan Sornsirirat also in a production class D-MAX ute.
The Safari will start with a ‘Safari Show’ at Perth’s Wanneroo Showgrounds on Friday September 19 and finish in Kalbarri (592km north of Perth) on Saturday, September 27 after a gruelling seven days of navigational rallying.
“You need the right car, the right crew and the right tyres and a bit of luck, so if we have all that lined up – and we believe we do – then we shall see what happens,” said Garland. “It’s certainly a trophy I would love to add to my collection.”
Garland’s D-MAX currently puts down around 200kW of power and 700Nm of torque compared with figures of around 190/600 last year, while Di Lallo’s MU-X puts out 180kW and 600Nm.
The cars will run on Toyo Tires’ Open Country M/T – an off-the-shelf tyre favoured by Isuzu Motorsports and off-road enthusiasts alike for their strength and grip.
The Open Country M/T is robustly constructed to limit punctures and other types of damage, while the block-type tread pattern extends to the buttress area, offering improved traction in deep ruts and when using low inflation pressures for rock-climbing.
Toyo has also imported the M633, a tyre designed for use in the Middle East, to cope with the sandiest conditions. The Isuzu Motorsport team will shortly carry out testing on the M633 for more widespread motorsport use.
Class wins are well within the grasp of both crews and Garland, who turned 56 this year, still believes he has the knowledge and the skill to win outright again.
It seems nothing will stop Garland from racing despite several years of medical issues including a fractured vertebra, a heart attack, five heart bypasses and prostate cancer surgery.
“I think it was race ace ‘Gentleman Jim’ Richards who said old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance and I want to be just like him!” Garland said. “Jim’s still racing and still getting great results.”
Between start and finish there are seven tough days of endurance racing throughout the Western Australia outback with overnight stops in Geraldton, Murchison, Gascoyne (two nights), Exmouth (two nights) and Carnarvon. The event covers more than 2500km of sand, salt plains, rough desert tracks and dry riverbeds.
“The Safari is as much about driving smart as driving hard and that is something you only learn from experience,” Garland added. “Harry and I have the experience, the car is great and a proven performer, and we certainly believe we can do it, if a little luck comes our way.
“You could say we are cautiously optimistic – but you can also be sure we will party hard if we do win!”
The 2014 Australasian Safari will kick off with the ceremonial start in Perth before competitors head 424km north to Geraldton for the short Prologue, which will determine priority for the race’s starting order.
Isuzu Motorsports races with support from Toyo Tires, Royal Purple Oils and Disc Brakes Australia.
In other off-roading news, stay tuned for updates on Matthew Kittle and Greg Gartner, who are this weekend running in round five of the AORC at Coffs Harbour.
