(worldcarfans) - The FJ Cruiser Race Truck will make its racing debut at the 38th Baja 1000 from November 15-18, 2006. The grueling race is run from Ensenada to La Paz across Mexico's beautiful, but barren Baja California. Entered in the Mini Stock Class, the FJ Cruiser Race Truck will be driven by the father-son team of Rod and Ryan Millen, with additional driving support from Adam Dupre.
The FJ Race Truck contains several performance and safety modifications including a revised suspension and heavy-duty rollcage among the most visible, yet it remains primarily a stock vehicle. Performance features include BFG A/T LT285/75R16 tires on 16-inch black TRD wheels with two onboard spares. The Fuel Safe Sportsman 22-gallon fuel cell provides an added safety feature, reports Trend.
The Race Truck is based on the all-new Toyota Racing Development (TRD) Special Edition FJ Cruiser sport utility vehicle (SUV). The TRD Special Edition FJ Cruiser is a unique limited edition package available on 2007 FJ Cruiser four-wheel-drive models. The special package contains several performance, exterior, and interior enhancements.
Only 3,200 of the TRD Special Edition FJ Cruiser will be produced. It goes on sale at Toyota dealerships this week.
Rod Millen is synonymous with rallying, off-road racing, and the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. After enjoying tremendous success in rallying, Millen joined forces with Toyota in 1991, where he dominated the Mickey Thompson Off-Road Racing Series, becoming the only driver in the 12-year history of the series to win three consecutive
Grand National Sport Truck titles. Rod is also the current record holder in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb with an overall time of 10 minutes 4.6 seconds, set in 1994 in an all-wheel drive Toyota Celica Turbo. He claimed five overall Pikes Peak Championships and eight class championships.
Following in the family tradition, Ryan Millen has enjoyed motorsports success since he began racing pee-wee dirt bikes in 1994. Racing in New Zealand, Ryan captured the 2002/03 South Island Formula Ford Championship.
Rod Millen founded MillenWorks in 1980. The company evolved from a high-performance racing company into today's diverse engineering, prototyping and product development business. Headquartered in Tustin, Calif., MillenWorks has teamed with Lockheed on unmanned military vehicles, and also specializes in concept vehicles, contributing to the Lexus IS 430, Lexus Street Rod, Toyota Retro Cruiser, and the Ultimate Toyota Celica.