I’m a giant fan of off-road motorsports. Growing up watching WRC, Dakar Rally, and enduro, I’ve all the time imagined what it will be prefer to drive a thoroughbred rally automobile, or experience a top-tier enduro bike via a number of the world’s most grueling off-road programs. Needless to say, my model selections in the case of the automobiles in my storage are clearly influenced by these of motorsport, as I’ve owned a number of KTMs up to now.

Speaking of which, Toyota’s been making it fairly huge within the rally world lately, with the Hilux Rally Car proving to be a extremely profitable machine. The pickup truck-based rally racer received the FIA world cup in 2016, 2017, and 2021, in addition to the Dakar Rally in 2019, 2022, and 2023. This inevitably performed a job in my resolution in shopping for my most up-to-date every day driver, a 2023 Toyota Hilux. Yes, I do know, my pickup truck has nothing to do with the Hilux Dakar from a technical viewpoint, however hey, it’s additionally carrying a Toyota badge. I slapped on a set of aftermarket wheels resembling these of the Hilux Dakar, too, simply to provide it a contact of rally.

My private Toyota Hilux which I typically think about as a Dakar Rally automobile.

So sure, I’m a Toyota fanboy, and on the identical time, an off-road moto junkie. As such, I couldn’t assist however get all excited once I noticed this video of a Toyota Hilux Dakar going face to face in a hill climb race towards a Sherco laborious enduro bike. Posted by none apart from Red Bull Motorsports themselves, the video was set within the Sani Pass, located on the border of South Africa and Lesotho. The cross is in no way a stroll within the park, because it’s not paved in any means in any respect. That stated, it’s in terrain like this that the Hilux Dakar and the Sherco 300SE Factory each shine the brightest.

The Sherco 300 was piloted by seven-time Roof of Africa winner Wade Young, whereas the Toyota Hilux Rally Car was pushed by Dakar veteran Giniel De Villiers. The race was to be a time assault, with every of the automobiles rocketing up Sani Pass one after the other towards the clock. To elevate the stakes even additional, the loser must pay for a spherical of drinks, whereas ingesting a shoey from the winner’s boot. So, who was going to be topped the Victor? The Sherco or the Hilux?

The actual Hilux Dakar which is clearly a totally totally different automobile.

The Sherco was first to do the run, with Wade Young launching laborious from the place to begin. We’re handled to a cacophony of two-stroke goodness because the bike works its approach to the highest of the cross, tackling hairpins, unfastened gravel, numerous rocks, all whereas throwing a bunch of smoke in its wake. After the four-kilometer stretch was over, the Sherco clocked in a formidable time of 4 minutes and 4 seconds.

Up subsequent, the Hilux. Its twin-turbo V6 sang its tune all the way in which to the highest, accompanied by epic slides and plenty and many mud. The long-travel suspension soaked up all of the rocks and ruts, making it seem like the Hilux was driving on easy, paved roads. At the top of all of it, Giniel De Villiers made it to the highest in a blistering three minutes and 45 seconds.

After all was stated and performed, is it actually a shock that the Hilux took the win? After all, it has 356 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque, and to not point out chunky tires and four-wheel-drive at its disposal. If something, Wade Young’s spectacular four-minute run simply goes to point out how a lot talent the dude has, on condition that he’s packing a fraction of the ability and traction of the Hilux.