Toyo Tires to support Robby Gordon in 2012 Dakar

Toyo Tires will fit its Open Country M/T-R tyres to Robby Gordon’s Team SPEED in the 2012 Dakar. Two of Robby Gordon’s specially built Hummer H3 racers will compete for the overall win; defending 2011 Dakar winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah joins the team in the #300 Qatar/Toyo Tires Hummer H3 while Gordon will drive his bright orange #303 SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires entry. Past off-road racing champions Gordon and Toyo Tires first competed in the Dakar in 2006. “Toyo Tires and I have worked hard over the years to develop a tyre combination that is right for the HUMMER,” said Gordon.

“Their team has put a lot of effort into making a Toyo tire that is tough, durable and ready for the Dakar Rally. It has good grip and can sustain the varying terrain, from sand to slick gravel roads to hard rocky areas.  I look forward to getting out there and racing on it.”

For the 2012 Dakar, Robby Gordon will be joined in the cockpit by multiple Baja 1000 winner, Johnny Campbell. Campbell will serve as navigator in the SPEED Energy/Toyo Tires Hummer, guiding the vehicle through challenging terrain on this 14-day, and nearly 6,000-mile Pan-American odyssey.

The 2012 Dakar starts on New Year’s Day on the East coast of Argentina in Mar Del Plata. It will cross over the Andes of Chile and then finish on South America’s West Coast in Lima, Peru.

“Dakar is the most challenging off-road endurance race on the planet and is a true test of both man and equipment,” said Stan Chen, manager of events and motorsports, Toyo Tire USA Corp. “We are proud to have Toyo Tires represented by three off-road champions, Robby Gordon, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Johnny Campbell.  The Open Country M/T-R is the perfect tyre to lead them to their goal of winning the 2012 Dakar.”