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VW TOUAREGS TAKE THE DAKAR AGAIN
Carlos Sainz & Lucas Cruz, Volkswagen Race Touareg 2
Photo: courtesy audi-motorsport.info

Wolfsburg (16 January 2010). Triumphant title defence in South America: Volkswagen has won the legendary Dakar Rally for the second time in succession and including 1980 for a third time.

After a ’showdown in blue’ the Volkswagen duos and their TDI powered Race Touareg prototypes celebrated a one two three podium lockout at the finish of the toughest challenge worldwide in motorsport. In the process, Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E) triumphed by only 2 minutes 12 seconds ahead of his team mates Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D) in a thrilling finale on the closing 202 kilometre sprint on the 14th and final rally day. Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA) claimed third position. Last year’s winners Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA/D) finished seventh.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team. It’s stunning what the drivers, co-drivers and the entire team have achieved on every single day of the Dakar Rally. With this one two three triumph Volkswagen Motorsport even surpassed its own lofty goals,” says Dr. rer. pol. h. c. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, Member of the Board of Management at VOLKSWAGEN AG for procurement, at the finish of the final stage. Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen explains: “Three weeks ago a highly motivated Volkswagen team came with the goal of successfully defending the ‘Dakar’ title won last year. Volkswagen has achieved something historical with this one-two-three. We are not only unbeaten in South America, we are also the only manufacturer to have won the world’s hardest rally up to now with diesel technology. The Volkswagen drivers fought amongst themselves for victory all the way to the chequered flag - sometimes by hard but fair means. This is exactly how we imagine motorsport to be. My congratulations therefore go to every Volkswagen duo who would all have been worthy winners.”

>>>>>Read all the latest and final results of the DAKAR in our RolfsRacing.com 2010 DAKAR Page.

The Brazil based Sertões International Rally, is one of the biggest and most challenging off-road competitions in the world.

The 17th edition of Rally dos Sertões probably will be decided only in its 10th - and final - stage. In the thrilling fight for the leadership of the competition, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Timo Gottschalk returned to stay in front of Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz - both compete with the Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 - to close the special this Tuesday (30), which traveled 240 kilometers in 2h37min16.

Leaving Barra, Bahia, and reaching Petrolina, in Pernambuco, the Rally dos Sertões 2009 reached its fourth state of the country. At the end of the seventh stage of the competition, Al-Attiyah and Gottschalk are nearly two minutes ahead of two Spanish.

“Today was a very difficult day, especially the sand. Even as marathon, I think was the most difficult day of rally so far. But I’m very happy, for our performance and because we come back to leadership. Tomorrow I will do my best and it seems that the title will be decided only in Natal, “said Nasser. “The passage of the special today was closed and just enough dust into the radiators. I stopped three times to fix and just wasting time. I think the dispute can be decided only in the last step. The fight for leadership is exciting, “said Sainz.

Among the bikes, the Brazilian Zé Hélio closed again in front of opponents. This Tuesday, the leader of the category also had luck.

“Today I walked a little more relaxed. I was saving the equipment, but was slower than in previous days. The Poles were faster, but ended up losing. Not expect close the day in front. I think the rally is very good, well structured, world-class, as was already happening in other editions. The organization is to be congratulated, “Zé Hélio.

Carlo Collet closed the second day in succession on the front, but is still 40 minutes of Carlos Batista, who won the first five stages and is the leader of the category.

“It was a good marathon, was fine, no problem. The hope was that reducing the difference. I thought to decrease even more, but still three days to the end of the rally. Let’s see what you make it, but we get to the end, “said Collet.

Coming up this week :

01/07 – 8ª round – Petrolina (PE) – Juazeiro do Norte (CE) Total stage distance : 421km / Special distance : 213km

02/07 – 9ª round – Juazeiro do Norte (CE) – Caicó (RN) Total stage distance : 439km / Special distance : 184km

03/07 – 10ª etapa – Caicó (RN) – Natal (RN) Total stage distance : 350km / Special distance : 114km