With the Goodwood Festival of Speed celebrating the Dakar Rally this year, one of the machines in attendance is a Toyota Land Cruiser KZJ95 restored by Modulauto.
It is based on the JVC-sponsored Land Cruisers raced by Josep MarĆa ServiĆ and Philippe Wambergue in the 1998 ParisāGranadaāDakar Rally.
“Our passionately restored KZJ95 embodies the spirit of endurance and reliability that made it legendary,” reads a promo by Modulauto. “It will race on a circuit worthy of its pedigree!
“A mythical climb, unique atmosphere, and pure automotive passion: Goodwood, the ideal terrain to let its history roar.”
Wambergue had done the Dakar Rally since 1984, finishing as high as second overall in 1996; that year, he won three stages and placed right behind Pierre Lartigue in a 1ā2 finish for the CitroĆ«n ZX Rally Raid. Incidentally, 205 Africa Raid has brought out a CitroĆ«n ZX to Goodwood as well.
In 1997 and 1998, he raced the Land Cruiser at Dakar with Jean-Paul Cottret as navigator (#207 in ’98). However, he bowed out of both races. The duo also won the 1998 Baja Portugal 1000 (later the Rallye TransibĆ©rique).
Six years after finishing 11th at his Dakar debut in 1991, ServiĆ joined the Toyota team in 1997. Unfortunately, his #208 also failed to finish the 1998 edition. ServiĆ switched to a Schlesser buggy for 1999 and became a perennial contender, finishing top five overall across the next three races. 2006 was his final Dakar, placing 14th overall.
Other rally raid cars at Goodwood this weekend include the new Odyssey CR-X, Mini JCW Buggy and Cooper S R53, the Ford Raptor, Toyota Hilux, G Rally G-ECKO, 1988 Land Rover 110 and Defender Dakar D7X-R, the aforementioned ZX and Peugeot 205 T16 Grand Raid, and a Mercedes-Benz 500SLC and SMG 2WD.
Featured image credit: Modulauto
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