2015 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Wins Baja 1000 Commonplace Full Class

The 2015 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro team claimed victory at the recent 47th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 race in the full stock class. While the truck performed flawlessly mechanically, the exterior took a beating.

The victorious 2015 Tundra TRD Pro Series was modified specifically to compete in the Baja 1000, a race renowned for showing no mercy to man or machine. When Toyota's race team set out to push the limits of the new Tundra in the harsh terrain of the Mexican desert, they understood that winning the race would require careful consideration of component partners.

According to Zack Zwillinger, senior design engineer at TRD USA, "We pre-ran the 2014 Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 with TRD Pro vehicles equipped with production TRD tuned BILSTEIN shocks. The TRD PRO Tundra prepped for the race won the Stock Class equipped with TRD-tuned BILSTEIN racing shocks."

Doug Cimins with BILSTEIN's Off-Road and Motorsports department said, "We have a lot of respect for what Baja racing represents. Our products, backed by more than 40 years of off-road victories, are designed to deliver the most ideal ride when you need control, durability and performance.  Congratulations to the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Desert Race Team for an amazing win!"

"Not only did the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro win the Baja 1000 Full Size Stock Class, the Tundra and BILSTIEN shocks were in such remarkable condition they drove the truck home from La Paz, Mexico to California. This is an incredible feat, considering most teams are just satisfied with finishing the event. Toyota and BILSTEIN engineering did a remarkable job designing and testing the parts used on this vehicle. We are proud of our strong partnership with Toyota, both on their production and race vehicles," said Regis Finn, BILSTEIN marketing manager.

BILSTEIN's racing history in the United States dates back to the beginning of off-road racing in the 1960's, when they revolutionized and transformed the racing world with the technology of their monotube shock absorbers. They continue their legacy of cutting edge development, with BILSTEIN's brand new 9200 Series 3.0 (70mm). The Baja-winning 2015 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Series was equipped with the new 9200 Series bypass in the front and the Black Hawk Radial Bypass shocks in the rear.

The TRD Pro Desert Race Team was coached by legendary off-road racer Ivan "Ironman" Stewart, and included drivers Andy Bell, Jamie Bestwick, Ryan Millen and Ted Moncure.

"The Baja 1000 is another test to ensure that Toyota trucks continue to exceed the expectations of our customers," said Toyota Pickup Trucks Chief Engineer Mike Sweers. "The combination of excellent teamwork and Toyota's quality, dependability and reliability not only got us to the finish line, but it got us there first."

Toyota has a famous off-road racing heritage dating back to the 1980s, straining up 304 off- road wins. For more than three decades, TRD has been a necessary component of Toyota's success in motorsports victories as well as in designing high-quality performance parts and accessories.

TRD Pro Desert Race Team

Team Coach:
Ivan "Ironman" Stewart: Legendary Toyota Off-Road Racer, Off-Road Hall of Fame Member/22-time SCORE Baja 500 and 1000 Champion/San Diego, CA

Navigators:
Mike Sweers: Chief Engineer of Toyota Trucks/Ann Arbor, MI

Samantha Stone: Toyota Production Engineer

Drivers:
Ted Moncure: Toyota Racing Development Design Engineer/SCORE Baja 1000 and 500 class-champion/Long Beach, CA

Andy Bell: Toyota Athlete/SCORE Baja 500 Champion/Guinness World Record holder/Long Beach, CA

Jamie Bestwick: Toyota Athlete/Professional BMX Vert Rider/9-time X-Games winner/Port Matilda, PA

Ryan Millen: SCORE Baja 1000 and 500 Competitor/Son of off-road and rally legend    Rod Millen/San Juan Capistrano, CA

Riding Mechanics:
Zach Zwillinger: TRD Design Engineer

Matt Weal: TRD Design Engineer

Mike Jarboe: Toyota Quality Engineer

Mark Sasaki: Toyota Quality Engineer

"Winning the Full Size Stock class helps  us demonstrate just how robust the new 2015 TRD Pro Series trucks are," said Andrew Franceschini, Toyota truck marketing and communications national manager.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woz-BHvOvD4