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>> 30/November/2010 - Volkswagen to Contest 2011 Dakar Rally With New Race Touareg 3

A gruelling desert, extreme climatic conditions, high altitudes: the Dakar Rally is the toughest test in motorsport: Volkswagen is determined to bring the title home to Wolfsburg for the third consecutive time. 

This is the aim for which the new Race Touareg 3 and the four proven driver pairings have been carefully prepared. Volkswagen is the only manufacturer so far to have decided the automobile classification of the desert classic in its favour with diesel technology. From 01 to 16 January 2011, which marks the third edition of the 'Dakar' through Argentina and Chile, the historic 2009 and 2010 exploits are to be succeeded by another triumph with TDI power. The challenge remains an immense one: in addition to battling very powerful rally rivals, the Volkswagen squad first has to successfully master the gruelling special stages, which means beating the “Dakar” itself.

"The two past Dakar victories are the greatest successes which Volkswagen has so far achieved in motorsport. But this by no means makes the task any easier. Our rivals will do everything within their power to defeat us, plus the entire squad will be in for 14 tough days," says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen.

"This is why we didn’t rest on our laurels but have systematically optimised the Race Touareg on the proven base. Mechanics, engineers, co-drivers and drivers, as well, have been working on many details to be prepared better than ever. It will again be a difficult task but we’re tackling the 2011 Dakar Rally with confidence. Our aim is to win for the third consecutive time."

For the hat-trick mission Volkswagen are relying on the newly developed third generation of the Race Touareg. The four 310-hp 'Dakar' prototypes will be piloted at the cross-country rally from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans and back by proven driver/co-driver pairings. Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E) – who have been unbeaten at four jointly contested cross-country rallies so far - will start into the event as the title defenders. The winners of the 2009 'Dakar' - Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA/D) - are regarded as equally tough team internal rivals as Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D), who finished 2010 as the runners-up with a narrow margin, and Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA), who were the narrowly beaten runners-up in 2009.

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