Press Release

OSAKA, JAPAN - April 23, 2008 - Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp., a tire sales subsidiary of TOYO TIRE & RUBBER Co., LTD. (President and CEO: Kenji Nakakura), has provided off-road tire support for Team Dakar USA's entry (Driver: Robby Gordon) in the Central Europe Rally 2008, which is currently being raced over a course route taking in parts of Hungary and Romania. The rally, which began on April 20, ends on Saturday, April 26.

Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.), organizer of the Dakar Rally, has been working on a project named the "Dakar Series," which had been planned to start in 2009 with the Dakar Rally as its major event. However, due to cancellation of the 2008 Dakar Rally at the beginning of this year, the Central Europe Rally component of the series was launched a year ahead of schedule to fill the vacancy.
The Central Europe Rally started on Sunday, April 20 in the Hungarian capital of Budapest and has since crossed into Romania. It returns to Hungary for the finish on April 26 in Balatonfüred, on Lake Balaton. The rally comprises seven special stages over a total distance of 3,061 km (including 1,570 km special stages).

Robby Gordon is driving a Hummer H3 equipped with Toyo Open Country M/T (35x12.50R17) tires, which was successful for him in the Baja 1000.

We hope that this support will help improve our technological skills in both off-road tires and SUV tires in general, while raising awareness of the Toyo Tires brand.