2012 Isuzu D-MAX Dune Test And Isuzu Motorsports Dakar Warmup
2013 ISUZU D-MAX SAND TEST
What’s Hot: The regular D-Max can cope with dunes; Bruce Garland’s Dakar racer trounces them.
What’s Not: Sand filling most orifices, Bruce hogging the driver's seat.
X Factor: Great ute, greater ute; what's not to like about a lash in a potential Dakar-winning ute.
OVERVIEW
It’s the world’s toughest rally: the Dakar. For 2013 it runs from Lima, Peru, heads south diverting across the Andes into Argentina, before crossing back into Chile and ending in Santiago.
In all, 8000 kilometres of car-busting and body-busting torture.
No problem. Australian desert rally legend and long-time Isuzu stalwart Bruce Garland is heading back for another crack at it.
The 2013 Dakar Rally in January will be his return since his crash during the 2011 event that left him with a fractured vertebra.
Given the two-year gap between bites at the Dakar cherry, Garland’s Isuzu Motorsports (IM) team decided that one final Dakar warm-up was in order.
So, what better place than a secluded dune system near Sydney for a lash in his recce truck (2010 Dakar entry) to get the blood running in preparation for the Dakar’s notorious dunes?
Garland’s major sponsor, Isuzu Ute Australia (IUA) invited TMR to tag along for the day, letting us loose on the dunes in a collection of road-going D-Max’s for good measure.
IUA also promised a taste of Bruce’s recce truck from its passenger seat, and despite none-too-subtle hints for a steer ourselves, we were keen to sample the next best thing.
Bruce’s long-time co-driver, Hiroaki (Harry) Suzuki, also brought along a little surprise for us to try, in the form of his subtly fettled personal D-MAX work ute.
As far as days in the office go, this was set to be a good one.
ROADGOING D-MAX
IUA brought along a collection of regular D-MAX 4x4 models, including a Crew Cab SX auto, Space Cab LS-U manual, and the range-topping Crew Cab LS-Terrain auto.
Spanning a good chunk of the D-MAX’s model range, all were equipped with the D-MAX’s sole engine choice of Isuzu’s 130kW/380Nm 3.0 litre turbodiesel four.
This venerable unit produces maximum torque between 1800-2800rpm for automatic models, and until 3000rpm for the manuals.
Taking the D-MAXs onto the sand was a no-nonsense affair, selecting 4x4 low range via the console knob, and dropping tyre pressures down to a Bruce-recommended 17psi.
Sand driving can take a bit of knack, but the key rules are; maintain momentum, don’t turn too sharply, and approach any gradients perpendicular to the crest.
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