Rally Global

El piloto español espera que la competencia del 2010 sea mucho más fácil que la versión anterior.

Se mostró ansioso de volver a correr en Sudamérica.

El piloto español Carlos Sainz (Wolkswagen) confesó que tiene “muchas ganas” de que comience la nueva edición del Rally Dakar, que se disputará entre el 1 y el 17 de enero por segundo año consecutivo en Argentina y Chile, especialmente después de la decepción del año pasado, y aseguró que su único objetivo claro es “ir a por la victoria”.

“Ya están todos los deberes hechos, toda la preparación, y estoy con muchas ganas de que empiece y de que llegue ya el día 1. El objetivo claro es el de ganar. Tenemos un equipo y un coche que nos da la posibilidad de luchar por la victoria y vamos a intentar ir por ella”, comentó Carlos Sainz, en declaraciones a Europa Press.

Respecto a los rivales que encontrará en esta nueva edición del Dakar, donde correrá con Lucas Cruz como copiloto, el bicampeón del mundo de rallys destacó como grandes adversarios en la lucha por el triunfo a sus propios compañeros de equipo, el qatarí Nasser Al-Attiyah y el sudafricano Giniel de Villiers, vigente campeón, así como los BMW del también español Nani Roma y del francés Stéphane Peterhansel.

Por otra parte, Carlos Sainz consideró como “una gran alternativa” el cambio de recorrido que se hizo el año pasado, trasladando la prueba de África a Sudamérica.

“Tuvimos un muy buen recibimiento, la organización preparó un gran recorrido, muy similar al de África y después de todo lo que ocurrió es una gran alternativa”, apuntó.

El año pasado, el trazado era nuevo para todos, pero en esta ocasión, con la experiencia previa, el madrileño espera que sea “más fácil”.

“Hubo algunos tramos que, como no conocíamos a fondo el terreno, fueron muy duros y largos, e incluso hubo algunas zonas que se tuvieron que suspender, pero este año, conociendo más el terreno, puede resultarnos algo más fácil”, añadió.

Cuando todo apuntaba a la primera victoria de Sainz en el Dakar, un accidente echó por tierra la ventaja que mantenía con sus grandes rivales. Ahora, ya superada la decepción, el piloto español asegura tener “muy claro” lo que ocurrió y espera no repetir el error.

“El Dakar ya ha jugado este tipo de pasadas en muchas ocasiones, no sólo a mí, sino también a otros pilotos. Es parte del juego”, explicó.

Asimismo, el piloto de Volkswagen opinó sobre la posibilidad que el rally se convierta en una carrera bicontinental, disputándose en África y en Sudamérica. Sainz ve con buenos ojos el cambio, pero sólo espera que el viaje de un continente a otro no sea “muy largo”.

Dakar rally director Etienne Lavigne celebrated Wednesday in Buenos Aires that the coming 2010 edition of the world event will coincide with Argentina and Chile commemoration of their second bicentennial as nations.

“It’s an honour that the rally should open the year” in which Argentina and Chile celebrate their 200 years of independence processes from colonial Spain, said Lavigne on the official presentation of the Dakar Rally.

Lavigne thanked Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner for the “renewed confidence” in the organization of the competition that takes off on the first day of 2010 and runs until January 17th in 14 stages (7 in Argentina and 7 in Chile) totalling 9.000 kilometres along the fantastic geography of the two neighbouring countries. The competition departs and ends in Buenos Aires.

The French director of the competition said that last edition participants enjoyed marvellous places and landscapes in Argentina and Chile but above all discovered the “fervour and passion” of the people for the rally.

After describing the 2010 Dakar rally as “spectacular and full of great adventures” Lavigne revealed that at the end of the registration period, and a few days before the vehicles leave from Le Havre, the list of competitors includes 184 bikes and squads, 138 cars and 50 trucks. The expected media coverage will be broadcasted in 189 countries and 2.2 billion people providing “an outstanding relay for the constructors, the partners and the countries involved”.

“In spite of the crisis the number of people is most important, because among other motives, who participated in 2009 had such a good time that they wished to return”, pointed out Lavigne.

Argentina’s Tourism Secretary Carlos Meyer called the competition “a sports festivity” and praised the fact the next edition will be the “bicentennial rally”.

“This event, a true celebration has won the heart of all Argentines”, said Meyer.

A similar ceremony took place Tuesday in Santiago de Chile to promote the event. Lavigne underlined that the Atacama Desert to the north of Chile will be “a most interesting challenge” for all competitors.

“I think we’ve managed a good blend of challenges in desert terrains, rocky and mountain paths and long stretches on plains which will demand a high level of sporting spirit” said Lavigne.

He added that in spite of a lesser participation 375 against 500 in the previous edition, “we must nevertheless feel proud because of the very difficult international economic context”.

“Hosting a world event of such magnitude can only be considered a great success and if it is shared with a neighbouring country it is even more satisfying”, said Carolina Tohá, spokesperson for the Chilean Executive.

She also underlined the participation of at least forty different Chilean government offices to help with the organization to ensure that the competition avoids national parks, protected areas or with archaeological remains.

“It will also mark the beginning of the Bicentennial celebrations in two neighbourly and brotherly counties”, she added.

Volkswagen’s Dakar Rally Support Team Ships Off to Argentina

Last month, we reported that Volkswagen would be sending five Race Touaregs to defend the 2009 Dakar Rally title. Yesterday, we learned the majority of the Volkswagen support team and their accompanying equipment have embarked on a 27-day ocean voyage from Le Havre, France to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The freighter responsible for transporting the rally’s European participants’ precious cargo, the Grande Brasile, was organized by the Dakar Rally organizer: the Amaury Sport Organization. The ship is moving the majority of the 373 participating teams’ equipment and supplies across the Atlantic, and is expected to unload in Buenos Aires on December 28. Volkswagen has 132,000-pounds of supplies and 17 assorted vehicles in the Grande Brasile’s hold. Currently in transit are Volkswagen’s service and equipment trucks, two race trucks, and six Panamericana multivans designated for crew support.

“[Today] the cargo loading and embarkation of the support crew marked the completion of another stage for the team,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “And of course, every successful completion of these individual steps makes us look forward to the Dakar in Argentina and Chile, which as the title defender we want to again decide in our favor, with even greater anticipation. [Today], a major portion of the logistical effort was accomplished.”

The 2010 Dakar Rally will run from January 2-16, beginning and ending in Buenos Aires.

Fuente: BuenosAires54.com

32 days until the 2010 Dakar Rally

Grande Brasile takes “Dakar” winner Volkswagen to South America.

Wolfsburg (01 December 2009). 60 tons of material, 17 support vehicles — Volkswagen’s “Dakar” crew embarked on its voyage across the Atlantic ocean to South America. The winning team of the past Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile will tackle the title defence project from 02 to 16 January 2010 by fielding five Volkswagen Race Touareg vehicles. To successfully master the challenge of the world’s toughest rally Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers and company will be supported on location by a service crew consisting of some 80 members. In Le Havre, France, five service trucks, three equipment trucks and two race trucks of the Volkswagen factory team set out on the longest part of the journey, the roughly four-week passage to Buenos Aires in Argentina. The cargo ship Grande Brasile that takes the equipment to the starting location was loaded the day before.

“For Volkswagen the preparation for the Dakar Rally entered its hot phase as early as at the end of September. Today the cargo loading and embarkation of the support crew marked the completion of another stage for the team,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “And of course every successful completion of these individual steps makes us look forward to the ‘Dakar’ in Argentina and Chile, which as the title defender we want to again decide in our favour, with even greater anticipation. Today, a major portion of the logistical effort was accomplished.”

The Grande Brasile and its precious cargo: joint passage of all participants

Dakar Rally organiser A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation) made it possible for all European participants to transport their material to South America by ship by centrally organising the voyage. The Grande Brasile carries a major portion of the material of the total of 373 participating teams in its bowels.

On 28 December – exactly 27 days after the Grande Brasile’s departure – the teams will receive their trucks and other support vehicles again, including six Volkswagen Panamericana Multivans that will transport the Volkswagen crew through South America. For the roughly 80 team members work will then start on location: Immediately after clearing customs the support vehicles will be checked again. On 29 and 30 December they will undergo scrutineering, just like the actual rally vehicles. Every vehicle has to prove that the required modifications – from safety features all the way to sufficient water supply – were made. On 01 January when the starting signal is given at the ceremonial “Dakar” start the armada will embark on its tour of Argentina and Chile.

Fuente: vw press.

Stronger than ever, the Volkswagen team will this year show up with even more title contenders. There’s Carlos Sainz whose ultimate quest is to win the Dakar, close to twenty years after claiming the WRC title, there’s hungry newcomer in the squad, Nasser Al Attiyah and there’s of course the title holder Giniel De Villiers. Certainly the quietest of the three he isn’t however the slowest and his experience allowed him to triumph at last in 2009 and give VW a long awaited success. For this 32nd edition, according to the South African, there won’t be a protected crew, like in the previous years: “Until now, there is no number 1. Carlos Sainz wants the race as badly as us and so does Nasser (Al Attiyah). But the truth is that there is less pressure on us and more on them. It’s nice to start as the defending champion but the hunger is the same. The difference is that I’m maybe more relaxed”. And a lot fitter. Despite the glory, De Villiers indeed suffered a real physical nightmare during his 2009 Dakar, having to deal with a slipped disc. “I went through surgery in April and I’m now fully recovered. Ready to keep my number one position!”

Fuente: Dakar.com

The competition version of VW’s Touareg develops 280 hp and 596 Nm from a 2.5-liter TDI engine. The competition model of VW will run in the 2010 edition of the Dakar Rally, which will be held in Argentina. Germans from Volkswagen presented the Touareg TDI version of the 2010 Dakar Rally. The model will run through Argentina and has been tested already in prestigious competitions such as the Baja 1000.

The competition model of VW Touareg benefits a 50 kg carbon fiber body and many others technical achievements. Braking system of the Dakar VW Touareg TDI is able to exert a pressure equivalent to that present at 700 meters above sea level. Monitoring system of competition version of VW’s Touareg has a capacity of 250 MB, which can be analyzed by engineers at the end of each racing day competition.

The VW is powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder TDI diesel engine with two-stage turbocharging system with exhaust turbochargers and intercooling. TDI unit is developing about 280 hp and 596 Nm of torque. The model can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and its top speed is 189 km/h.

Fuente: Automotorblog.com