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31/10/2006 //
UAE DESERT CHALLENGE - A FORETASTE OF DAKAR
2006 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup
Round 7: UAE Desert Challenge, November 5-10
Preview
A FORETASTE OF DAKAR
The nature of the route and the prevailing conditions will once again make the UAE Desert Challenge, final event in the 2006 FIA World Cup, a suitable test ahead of the next Dakar Rally. Leading works teams Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and BMW will all be present, as will indefatigable privateer Jean-Louis Schlesser. It promises to be a stirring battle.
The event marks the competitive debut of the Mitsubishi/BFGoodrich team’s latest Pajero Evolution, the MPR 13, which was on display recently at the Paris Motor Show. Three of its four Dakar crews – Peterhansel/Cottret, Alphand/Picard and Masuoka/Maimon – will be on the start line in Dubai. That’s some line-up…
The Volkswagen/BFGoodrich team has no major developments for its Race Touareg 2, but there are some interesting developments on the driver front. Two former world rally world champions will be on hand: Carlos Sainz is contesting the UAE Desert Challenge for the first time, with Michel Périn sitting alongside, while Ari Vatanen will be having his first competitive outing in a Race Touareg 2. Italian Fabrizia Pons co-drives. The Finnish star already has one win in Dubai to his credit, albeit back in 1997.
The X-Raid/BFGoodrich squad will be out in force in Dubai, with four entries. There are two new BMW X3 CCs, for Jutta Kleinschmidt and Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah, and X5 CCs for a couple of “privateers”, including José Luis Monterde.
Last but not least, Jean-Louis Schlesser will be there with his faithful Schlesser/BFGoodrich buggy. He has a new navigator in the form of Emmanuel Guigou, who used to drive a Renault in French championship events.
As far as tyres are concerned, all factory teams will use the famous BFGoodrich “Rock”, which – despite what its name might suggest – is as effective on sand as it is on stony terrain. The quality of the entry and the inevitable intensity of competition should ensure that BFGoodrich’s engineers come away from the season’s final major rally-raid with an ample supply of useful technical data.
Round 7: UAE Desert Challenge, November 5-10
Preview
A FORETASTE OF DAKAR
The nature of the route and the prevailing conditions will once again make the UAE Desert Challenge, final event in the 2006 FIA World Cup, a suitable test ahead of the next Dakar Rally. Leading works teams Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and BMW will all be present, as will indefatigable privateer Jean-Louis Schlesser. It promises to be a stirring battle.
The event marks the competitive debut of the Mitsubishi/BFGoodrich team’s latest Pajero Evolution, the MPR 13, which was on display recently at the Paris Motor Show. Three of its four Dakar crews – Peterhansel/Cottret, Alphand/Picard and Masuoka/Maimon – will be on the start line in Dubai. That’s some line-up…
The Volkswagen/BFGoodrich team has no major developments for its Race Touareg 2, but there are some interesting developments on the driver front. Two former world rally world champions will be on hand: Carlos Sainz is contesting the UAE Desert Challenge for the first time, with Michel Périn sitting alongside, while Ari Vatanen will be having his first competitive outing in a Race Touareg 2. Italian Fabrizia Pons co-drives. The Finnish star already has one win in Dubai to his credit, albeit back in 1997.
The X-Raid/BFGoodrich squad will be out in force in Dubai, with four entries. There are two new BMW X3 CCs, for Jutta Kleinschmidt and Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah, and X5 CCs for a couple of “privateers”, including José Luis Monterde.
Last but not least, Jean-Louis Schlesser will be there with his faithful Schlesser/BFGoodrich buggy. He has a new navigator in the form of Emmanuel Guigou, who used to drive a Renault in French championship events.
As far as tyres are concerned, all factory teams will use the famous BFGoodrich “Rock”, which – despite what its name might suggest – is as effective on sand as it is on stony terrain. The quality of the entry and the inevitable intensity of competition should ensure that BFGoodrich’s engineers come away from the season’s final major rally-raid with an ample supply of useful technical data.