Bruce Garland is not a household name, if you don't follow the Australian Safari. He is, however, a multiple winner of that offroad event. Seven years ago, he was teamed with a certain Peter Brock in a pair of Holden Jackaroos to contest the Australian Safari that year.
Garland will drive the lead car in a two-car team this year in the South American-based Dakar Rally, which has been shifted from its West African home due to terrorism concerns.
His mount will be the Isuzu D-Max, which we have known up until now as the Holden Rodeo, but is no longer permitted by Holden to be sold as a Rodeo, since Isuzu is no longer owned by GM. Isuzu is consequently withdrawing the right of Holden to sell this vehicle in Australia, badged as a Rodeo, since Isuzu has its own dealer network (selling trucks) and expects to be able to sell the D-Max through this network, without any help from Holden, thank you very much.
Garland will be co-driven by his long-standing partner, Harry Suzuki. The other car will be driven by two Swedes, Pelle Wallentheim and Olle Ohlsson.
The Aussie team will take the first Isuzu for a shake-down run in the 'Condo 750' during Easter, before completing preparation of the second car. Following that, the team will enter the Finke Desert Race in June and the Australasian Safari in August.
They plan to participate in at least one international event before heading off to the Dakar. Sponsorship and support for their efforts come from Isuzu in Thailand and Japan.
"I've always wanted to do Dakar with a team who will do it properly and have fun too," says Garland, who previously ran in the 1998 Dakar Rally, but DNF'd.
Swede Wallentheim is motivated to take part in the event, having beaten bone cancer recently. He has a point to prove about not letting things get in the way of your dream.
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