Schedule & Gallery after the jump!
An important milestone on the way to the “Dakar”: the new Volkswagen Race Touareg 3 will experience its competitive debut at the Silk Way Rally through Russia (11–18 September).
The fascinating off-road marathon from Saint Petersburg to Sochi will be the big dress rehearsal and final test for the Dakar Rally through Argentina and Chile (01–16 January) where Volkswagen is striving to achieve the “hat-trick” with TDI diesel technology following its exploits in 2009 and 2010. Continue reading ‘“Dakar” dress rehearsal: new Race Touareg 3 debuts in Russia’
Gallery after the jump!
Earlier today, Volkswagen unveiled the new 310hp Race Touareg 3 in front of 1,000+ spectators at the Trier amphitheater n Germany. Looking for their third consecutive Dakar Rally win, the Race Touareg 3 will run the 2.5-litre TDI diesel engine with 10 more horsepower than the RT2. Horsepower wasn’t the focus though, engineers looked to improve on three areas; the cooling system, gearbox tuning and more power at high altitudes. The RT3 has already been subjected to over 6,000 miles (10,000 kilometres) of testing even in 118 °F (48 degrees °C) temperatures. Continue reading ‘Volkswagen looks towards a 2011 Dakar hat trick with the new 310hp Race Touareg 3′
An evolution model that is as tough as nails: the Volkswagen Race Touareg 3 has completed three weeks of testing in Spain and Morocco with extreme success. Continue reading ‘New Volkswagen Race Touareg 3 takes on Morocco and passes’
New design, proven technology: Volkswagen is developing an evolution model of the Race Touareg that has been victorious twice in a row for the 2011 Dakar Rally in South America. (continue reading…)
Hear from Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers, Kris-Nissen, Lucas-Cruz, Mark-Miller, Nasser-Al-Attiyah and Ralph-Pitchford on the eve of the 2010 Dakar Rally.
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They are the unsung heroes of a Dakar Rally: The engineers and mechanics who, thanks to the daily service stop, always provide their drivers and co-drivers with the best material. Volkswagen relies on a team of approximately 80 people including the driver/co-driver squads of Giniel de Villiers, Carlos Sainz and company to field the five Race Touaregs between 2 and 16 January in Argentine and Chile. Seven people maintain daily each of the powerful near 300 hp “Dakar” prototypes. “Only those who have top material can also deliver a top performance,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “This not only applies to the drivers and co-drivers but also for their mechanics. This is why the service crew has access to first-class tools and is prepared for every situation.” Continue reading ‘Volkswagen team perfectly equipped for the Dakar Rally’
A crucial task: Without Lucas Cruz, Timo Gottschalk, Clécio Maestrelli, Ralph Pitchford and Dirk von Zitzewitz the Volkswagen “Dakar” successes would have been unthinkable. The five co-drivers in the Race Touareg cockpits must, like their team mates in the race trucks, navigate their drivers perfectly for exactly 9,030 kilometres during the 2010 Dakar Rally otherwise they would be lost. The route is secret throughout, must not be practised and the use of navigational aids is limited. Continue reading ‘Volkswagen navigators guide the Race Touaregs to success in 2010 Dakar’
With 22 days left until the start of the 2010 Dakar Rally, Volkswagen launches yes another iPhone app. Currently it provides videos, in-depth bio’s and Race Touareg technology insights. Download here (iTunes link)
From high-tech nomads for high-tech nomads: Volkswagen has launched a new iPhone application about the Dakar Rally in Apple’s online store today.
Under the name of ‘Volkswagen Rally mobile – 2010 Dakar’ the application is now available free of charge. Before and during the ‘Dakar’ it sends news, results, videos and background information directly to the user’s display. iPhone users will be kept up to speed about the ‘Dakar’ programme of the five factory-prepared and factory-fielded Race Touareg vehicles from Volkswagen, receiving exciting insights into the rally world of Volkswagen Motorsport. The Wolfsburg-based automobile manufacturer will contest the off-road classic that leads through Argentina and Chile – running twice across the Andes as well as through the gruelling Atacama desert and the legendary pampas – from 02 to 16 January 2010 as the title defender. Continue reading ‘Volkswagen puts the Dakar Rally on the iPhone’
