Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 Prepares For 2009 Dakar Rally

The `Dakar' Rally 2009 promises to be the most demanding test yet for the Volkswagen Motorsport team, as it prepares to take on some of the harshest and most challenging terrain on the planet in its Race Touareg 2.


The four factory-prepared Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 models will be piloted by Spaniard Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers (South Africa), Mark Miller (USA) and Dieter Depping.

The racers are powered by a 2.5-liter TDI diesel engine producing 280hp. They are currently under construction at Volkswagen Motorsport in Hanover, Germany. From there, the support and service trucks plus parts and equipment needed to compete in the world's toughest motorsport event, will be transported to Le Havre, France for scrutineering, which takes place on November 26. They will then be shipped to South America for the race.


For the first time in the event's history, the 2009 race takes place across the South American continent following last year's terrorist threat. Starting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 3 January 2009 and covering more than 5,625 grueling miles over 15 stages, the teams will travel through Argentina and Chile from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts and back again.

The stages include passage through the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world with the highest dune fields. It will also cross the Andes twice, encountering altitudes of up to 15,000ft.

In preparation for these extreme conditions, both men and machines have been specially prepared. The drivers have completed altitude training in the Alps, while the 2.5-liter TDI engines have been subjected to thousands of miles of durability testing in an environment chamber designed to simulate extreme altitudes.


The constantly changing landscapes and varying terrain along the route are not only an extremely demanding test for the vehicles, drivers and co-drivers, but they also provide a new set of challenges for the technicians and engineers in terms of vehicle set-up and maintenance.

The Race Touareg `Dakar' prototype has scored nine wins over 24 events and 29 podium finishes. With two victories and a second place in three races during 2008, the Race Touareg 2 is one of the most successful cars of its type and each team will be hoping to build on this success in 2009.

[Source : VOLKSWAGEN via Eurotuner]