The Isuzu D-Max has added the Dakar Rally to its impressive resumé, finishing 11th overall among 177 participating cars, which included such brands as Volkswagen, Hummer, BMW and Opel.

The D-Max — piloted by Australian Bruce Garland and navigated by Japanese Harry Suzuki — was also the best diesel pickup in the 2009 staging of the world-famous off-road endurance race, held from Jan. 3-18 across Argentina and Chile.

“The 2009 Dakar Rally covered a total distance of 9,500 kilometers, including 5,650 kilometers of special stages through sand dunes and rough terrains,” said Isuzu Operations Thailand president Ken Takashima. “This event is renowned for its harsh driving conditions that make for the ultimate proving ground for man and machine.”

This latest feat is part of the Isuzu Diesel Mission, which tapped the successful Australian rally team Garland Motor Sport to compete in three rally events to demonstrate Isuzu’s diesel expertise to the world. It aimed to prove that vehicles equipped with Isuzu diesel engines have speed, power, endurance and fuel economy.

The Dakar-spec Isuzu D-Max was a state-of-the-art road warrior. Under its hood was Isuzu’s tried-and-tested 4JJ1 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine mated to a special Holinger five-speed manual transmission featuring a low-range gear in the transfer case. Custom-made gold-plated shocks were provided by Murray Coote Australia, while the free-floating rear axle hubs were by Bosnjak.

To shave off body weight, the rear quarter panels, the doors and the hood were all made of carbon fiber. Other special parts of the Dakar Rally D-Max included ROH alloy wheels, Bridgestone tires, Motec dashboard, HIJDA rally trip meter, DBA disc brakes with four piston calipers, and a Bond roll cage.

Aside from the Dakar Rally, the two other rally events in which the Isuzu D-Max competed were the Australasian Safari and the UAE Desert Challenge.

“The Isuzu D-Max, which is already famous for its durability and fuel economy, has proven that it has the power to stand out in the toughest international rally event in the world,” added Takashima.

The Dakar Rally, for the first time in its 31-year history, was held outside of Europe and Africa due to terrorist threats, which already cancelled the staging of the 2008 edition of the much-awaited yearly event. Hence, the Isuzu team overcame not just cruel driving conditions but also the danger of terrorist attacks. All in all, this was a sweet victory for both the machine and the dedicated men behind it.