stuart
21-02-2006, 11:42 AM
http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/images/mainsite/dakar2007.jpg
The Volkswagen factory team, which finished a historic second on the 2006 Dakar Rally, will contest the event again in 2007, it is announced today (Monday).
Plans to further develop the TDI-powered Race Touareg 2 are already well in hand under the continuing guidance of Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen.
‘During the recent Dakar Rally we showed that the Race Touareg 2 has enormous potential,’ said Nissen. ‘We will now push the development forward in logical steps. In the coming 11 months fine-tuning will be our priority, not only related to engineering but also in the areas of logistics, preparation and team organisation.’ ‘With the Dakar project, Volkswagen has established itself in professional motorsport within a remarkably short space of time,’ said Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Chairman of the Volkswagen Board. ‘We want to pursue this positive development still further. The Dakar Rally is an excellent platform on which to present the reliability and technical innovation of Volkswagen in the toughest of competitions.’
In addition to a comprehensive test schedule, Volkswagen will contest selected rounds of the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup – which it won in 2005 with driver Bruno Saby – and the FIA Cross-Country Rally Baja Cup. ‘Drivers and co-drivers will be announced during the forthcoming weeks and months,’ said Nissen.
Volkswagen claimed a Dakar Rally record last month (January) when Giniel de Villiers and his Race Touareg 2 crossed the finishing line of the world’s toughest motorsport event in second position overall.
It was the highest-ever finish for a diesel-powered vehicle – one place higher than Volkswagen achieved in 2005 – and was the best result for a German manufacturer since 1986. The Volkswagen of American Mark Miller placed fifth. Volkswagen also scored five special stage victories.
The Volkswagen factory team, which finished a historic second on the 2006 Dakar Rally, will contest the event again in 2007, it is announced today (Monday).
Plans to further develop the TDI-powered Race Touareg 2 are already well in hand under the continuing guidance of Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen.
‘During the recent Dakar Rally we showed that the Race Touareg 2 has enormous potential,’ said Nissen. ‘We will now push the development forward in logical steps. In the coming 11 months fine-tuning will be our priority, not only related to engineering but also in the areas of logistics, preparation and team organisation.’ ‘With the Dakar project, Volkswagen has established itself in professional motorsport within a remarkably short space of time,’ said Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Chairman of the Volkswagen Board. ‘We want to pursue this positive development still further. The Dakar Rally is an excellent platform on which to present the reliability and technical innovation of Volkswagen in the toughest of competitions.’
In addition to a comprehensive test schedule, Volkswagen will contest selected rounds of the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup – which it won in 2005 with driver Bruno Saby – and the FIA Cross-Country Rally Baja Cup. ‘Drivers and co-drivers will be announced during the forthcoming weeks and months,’ said Nissen.
Volkswagen claimed a Dakar Rally record last month (January) when Giniel de Villiers and his Race Touareg 2 crossed the finishing line of the world’s toughest motorsport event in second position overall.
It was the highest-ever finish for a diesel-powered vehicle – one place higher than Volkswagen achieved in 2005 – and was the best result for a German manufacturer since 1986. The Volkswagen of American Mark Miller placed fifth. Volkswagen also scored five special stage victories.