I’m a big fan of off-road motorsports. Growing up watching WRC, Dakar Rally, and enduro, I’ve always imagined what it would be like to drive a thoroughbred rally car, or ride a top-tier enduro bike through some of the world’s most grueling off-road courses. Needless to say, my brand choices when it comes to the vehicles in my garage are clearly influenced by those of motorsport, as I’ve owned multiple KTMs in the past.
Speaking of which, Toyota’s been making it pretty big in the rally world recently, with the Hilux Rally Car proving to be a highly successful machine. The pickup truck-based rally racer won the FIA world cup in 2016, 2017, and 2021, as well as the Dakar Rally in 2019, 2022, and 2023. This inevitably played a role in my decision in buying my most recent daily driver, a 2023 Toyota Hilux. Yes, I know, my pickup truck has nothing to do with the Hilux Dakar from a technical point of view, but hey, it’s also wearing a Toyota badge. I slapped on a set of aftermarket wheels resembling those of the Hilux Dakar, too, just to give it a touch of rally.
