Strong Dakar debut for Hino hybrid

Hino Team Sugawara has successfully completed yet another Dakar Rally, this time campaigning a Hino 600 Series hybrid in one of the most grueling automotive races on earth. 

In its debut appearance in the event, which for 2022 was held over a torturous 8404-kilometre route through Saudi Arabia over January 1 to 14, the bonneted Hino hybrid completed the full race distance and came home in 22nd place overall. 

This year also marked the 31st consecutive year in which Hino has contested the Dakar. Hino was the first Japanese truck band to tackle the event, first doing so back in 1991. 

Despite the ongoing disruption cause by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hino Team Sugawara was able to successfully develop and test Hino’s first racing hybrid system. 

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And when this year’s race drew to a close, it was the experience and skill of driver and team director, Teruhito Sugawara, plus navigators Hirokazu Somemiya and Yuji Mochizuki, along with the teamwork and assistance of the squad’s mechanics and support staff, that guided the innovative Hino home. 

Consistent results in the first 10 stages meant a top 20 result was likely for Hino Team Sugawara, before an issue with the truck’s automatic transmission in the penultimate stage saw the vehicle drop back slightly in the overall placings. 

“The vehicle equipped with the hybrid system was developed over a period of about two years, and it was a project that was supported by many people,” said Mr Sugawara.   
 
Team navigator, Yuji Mochizuki, said the team will now build on its experience to take the hybrid truck to even greater heights. 
 
“This year was a year of challenges, so, although we fell back in the rankings, what we gained was great,” he said. 

“I am sure that I will be able to use this information for future development. 
 
“On the other hand, the hood cab made the ride more comfortable and it was physically easier.” 

The Hino Dakar Rally truck is powered by an enhanced version of the Hino A09C engine, the production version of which is available in the all-new Hino 700 Series and 500 Series Wide Cab trucks in Australia.  
 
The truck also features full-time 4WD and an 8.7-litre turbocharged and intercooled engine, which is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.