The legendary Dakar® rally is the toughest endurance race in the world with 16-days of competition on a punishing course roughly 6,000-miles in length crossing through Portugal and countries in Africa.  During the early stages of competition, the team was challenged by a roll onto their side and bad fuel, both costing valuable time.  Proving their determination and toughness, the team made a remarkable charge from a 77th starting position to finish 15th during Stage 5 of the event which spanned 768-kilometers from Ouarzazate to Tan Tan, both in the African country of Maroc.  This was the best finish of the day in the “Cars” Category.  Gordon, winner of the 2006 Baja 1000, attributed his success to the team’s 37x13.50x17Open Country M/T™ tires, as he passed several competitors off course over rocky terrain without any tire problems.

With 264-vehicles still competing in Stage 6 which ran from Tan Tan to Zouerat in Mauritanie, Team Dakar USA continued their exciting charge starting from 36th spot to score their First-Ever Stage Victory.  The desert stage spanned 817-kilometers with top competitors reaching 112-mph over portions of the course’s “special”, placing Team Dakar USA 19th overall in Dakar® 2007.  According to Steve Hutchinson, Senior Director of Marketing, Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corporation, “Team Dakar USA’s victory during Stage 6 of Dakar represents an historic event for Toyo Tires.  We are proud of this and thank Robby Gordon and his team for making it a part of Toyo’s racing milestones.”  In addition to Team Dakar USA, Frenchman Eric Vigouroux with navigator Alexandre Winocq are 15th overall in their Chevy Silverado pickup running on Toyo Open Country M/T™ tires.

The Dakar® is televised daily on the Versus Network in the United States, while you can access updated videos of Team Dakar USA at youtube.com/rgm7.  To learn more about Toyo’s Open Country line of tires, log on to www.toyo.com.  Toyo manufactures and distributes a complete line of high performance and original equipment replacement tires for passenger car, light truck, commercial truck, bus, off-road and construction applications.