Ramses’ Rally Journal to Provide Ongoing Coverage of Central Europe Rally

CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA (April 9, 2008) – Toyo Tires™, Robby Gordon and Team Dakar USA return to Europe April 19 – 26 to compete in the Central Europe Rally, the first event to be run under the “Dakar Series” certification by the Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.).  Beginning in Budapest, Hungary, the Central Europe Rally will cover 2,972 kilometers, approximately 1,846 miles, with seven stages over an extremely varied and technical route.  The competition vehicle for this event is a specially prepared Hummer H3 racer equipped with 35x12.50R17 Toyo Open Country M/T®-R race tires, the tires that won the 2006 Baja 1000.

Ramses Perez, project manager of events for Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp., will travel with the team throughout the race chronicling their exciting journey on his blog Ramses’ Rally Journal which can be accessed by logging on to toyo.com.  Perez works closely with Team Toyo™ Off-Road race teams throughout the year, attending both short course and endurance events such as the Baja 1000.  He travelled to Lisbon, Portugal with Team Dakar USA in January of this year, ready to provide coverage of the 2008 Dakar®.  After the disappointing cancellation of the rally, Perez and Toyo® have remained loyal to sharing the adventure of endurance rally competition.  They are ready to once again relay the ambience, the challenge and the action of the event from the level of Perez’s personal experience.

“The Central Europe Rally is a great opportunity to demonstrate this year’s preparation of Team Dakar USA and the capabilities of Toyo’s Open Country M/T-R tires,” said Steve Hutchinson, senior director of marketing, Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.  “In only our second attempt at competing in Dakar last year, this great combination of Robby Gordon and Toyo Tires won stage 6 as well as securing the Open Class victory.”

The blog Ramses’ Rally Journal will include updates, videos and photos from inside the race.  In addition, a link will be provided to twitter for text message updates from Team Dakar USA.  Log on to toyo.com to follow this exciting event.

Toyo manufactures and distributes a complete line of replacement tires for high performance cars, luxury vehicles, light trucks and SUVs as well as tires for commercial trucks, buses and off-road and construction applications.