Development of “Camion” Truck Winner at '97 Dakar Rally

In the '97 Dakar Rally, Hino FT model, 8,000cc engine truck, won 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd places by defeating upper class trucks having engine of 19,000cc. The average speed of the '97 Hino model was increased more than 15 km/h over the '96 model by improving the riding comfort and handling stability. Larger diameter tires, and softer parabolic leaf springs with long and inclined axle-locus for reducing road impact, gas charged dampers, suspension rods which control compliance-steer-motion and wind-up motion of unsprung masses were adopted for the '97 model.