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Volkswagen makes a splash with new Touareg for Dakar Rally
Essen, Nov 28: A new generation of the car appropriately called the `Touareg` is ready to compete in the Dakar Rally.
Essen, Nov 28: A new generation of the car appropriately called the 'Touareg' is ready to compete in the Dakar Rally.
One of the main attractions of the Essen motor show in Germany was the launch of the new Volkswagen Touareg, on Thursday (November 27). The new four-wheel racing model has a five-clinder 2.3 litre engine and is desinged to face the gruelling conditions in the desert. German driver Jutta Kleinschmidt, the first woman to win the Dakar rally in 2001, was full of confidence the Touareg racing car would perform well in the rally scheduled to start on January 1, 2004. "For me it was a big experience because since one and a half years I have been at Volskwagen, so it was a great moment for me to drive this new Touareg. We were working hard, specially in the last three months to finish the project to start this car in the next Dakar. So it was a big moment and then when you feel the car feels well, has a good handling and is jumping very nice, it was a great moment for me and I just have to thank everybody who helped us to bring the car on the road," Klenschmidt said at the launch.
The other leading driver is Frenchman Bruno Savy, who is also well impressed with the progress achieved by the team in such a short period.
"We've just done two weeks of testing in Morocco. I was pleasantly surprised because the car is brand new but I quickly realized the new car has started well. I had the chance in my career to drive many racing cars but I was surprised to see how quickly they manage to make the Touareg into a competitive car."
The manufacturers submitted the Touareg to a series of rigorous tests in the Morrocan desert.
Kleinsmidt will team up with another woman, Fabrizia Pons while new signing Bruno Savy will have Mathew Stevenson as co-driver.
The 2004 edition of the Dakar starts on the first day of the new year in France. Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan is the defending champion.
Competitors will race through Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Burkina Faso for 17 days until reaching the final stage in Dakar, Senegal.
Bureau Report
One of the main attractions of the Essen motor show in Germany was the launch of the new Volkswagen Touareg, on Thursday (November 27). The new four-wheel racing model has a five-clinder 2.3 litre engine and is desinged to face the gruelling conditions in the desert. German driver Jutta Kleinschmidt, the first woman to win the Dakar rally in 2001, was full of confidence the Touareg racing car would perform well in the rally scheduled to start on January 1, 2004. "For me it was a big experience because since one and a half years I have been at Volskwagen, so it was a great moment for me to drive this new Touareg. We were working hard, specially in the last three months to finish the project to start this car in the next Dakar. So it was a big moment and then when you feel the car feels well, has a good handling and is jumping very nice, it was a great moment for me and I just have to thank everybody who helped us to bring the car on the road," Klenschmidt said at the launch.
The other leading driver is Frenchman Bruno Savy, who is also well impressed with the progress achieved by the team in such a short period.
"We've just done two weeks of testing in Morocco. I was pleasantly surprised because the car is brand new but I quickly realized the new car has started well. I had the chance in my career to drive many racing cars but I was surprised to see how quickly they manage to make the Touareg into a competitive car."
The manufacturers submitted the Touareg to a series of rigorous tests in the Morrocan desert.
Kleinsmidt will team up with another woman, Fabrizia Pons while new signing Bruno Savy will have Mathew Stevenson as co-driver.
The 2004 edition of the Dakar starts on the first day of the new year in France. Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan is the defending champion.
Competitors will race through Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Burkina Faso for 17 days until reaching the final stage in Dakar, Senegal.
Bureau Report