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Silk Way Rally 2011 in Moscow’s Red Square on Saturday

Salz Hering — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:34:40 +0000

The Monster Energy X-raid Team started the 2011 Silk Way Rally in Moscow’s Red Square on Saturday. The French duo of Stéphane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret opened the starting ceremony in their MINI All4 Racing and were the first crew on the podium between the Kremlin and the famous basilica in Red Square. Thousands of spectators were present and also witnessed the X-raid duo of Krzysztof Holowczyc/Jean-Marc Fortin (POL/BEL) and the Russian pairing of Alexander Mironenko/Sergey Lebedev take the start in their BMW X3CCs.
After technical scrutineering of the three cars and service vehicles in the Luzhniki Stadium – the venue for the 1980 Olympics – crews took part in the podium ceremony in Red Square.
For Stéphane Peterhansel the start of the rally was special: “It’s great to start driving here at the Red Square. Many years ago I was here once before, but back then there were not many spectators,” said the Frenchman.
Holowczyc and Fortin followed in their BMW X3CC. “At this place to start is simply unbelievable,” said the Polish driver. “I am for the first time in Moscow and I was delighted to see so many spectators along the route.”

Full size video HERE

X-raid newcomers, Sergey Mironenko and Alexander Lebedev, enjoyed the start as well. “To spend a rally start at the heart of Russia and to see so many people is a great debut,” said Mironenko. “This was grandiose scenery and a beautiful location for the start of the Silk Way Rally,” said Sven Quandt, Monster Energy and X-raid team boss.
“Huge numbers of enthusiastic spectators have gathered here. Now we hope the weather is favourable and it stops raining.”

The three teams tackle the first leg from Moscow to Lipetsk on Sunday. After a 260 km road section, teams will tackle 310 km against the clock. The first part of the stage will be held on fast tracks before the route becomes more technical with some off-road sections.
For comprehensive Silk Way Rally reports and updates visit the Dakar Rally Raid website or click the banner below for the facebook section of Dakar Rally Raid.

Press Release Team X-raid GmbH – Puro Off Road is registered news user with Team X-raid GmbH

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Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2011

Hans Wurst — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 19:48:25 +0000

Rally legends Stephane Peterhansel piloting, the first time in competition, the Monster Energy All 4 Racing Xraid Mini and Marc Coma on KTM victorious at 2011 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. At April 7. 2011 the rally raid was over. France’s Stéphane Peterhansel wrapped up a record-breaking seventh win. Second place at the cars got the frenchman’s BMW X3 CC driving Team X-Raid colleague Leonid Novitskiy while Jean-Louis Schlesser in his buggy earned 3rd spot at this rally raid. Marc Coma, the reigning cross-country rallies world champion., showing of his two-wheeled superiority by clinching a third consecutive bikes category title, as the 2011 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge came to a close today at the Yas Marina Circuit. Among the quads/atv’s, Nicholas Black completed an unlikely victory in his first ever Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, while the trucks category was won by Eduard Nikolaev in his KAMAZ-Master truck.

Find a compiled 2011 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Raid summary at the latest Puro Off-Road “offspring” – Dakar Rally Raid.com 2011 Desert Challenge UAE

Out for Mini All4racing and Chicherit

Memin Pinguin — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 12:14:48 +0000

Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit had an accident behind the wheel of his Monster Energy All4racing Mini Countryman during a test drive he took on the rest day in Arica. The X-Raid Team driver suffers from a head trauma, which – fortunately – did not need for him to be taken to the Arica hospital; Chicherit was just kept under observation in the medical antenna of the rally organization on Saturday evening. As for the Mini Countryman, seriously damaged, it will not be able to get back in the race. ‘Guerlain is not seriously injured’, says Sven Quandt, the X-Raid Team Manager reassuringly, ‘but the car somersaulted once or twice. We don’t have time to repair and anyway we don’t have all the parts we need.’
View the destroyed All4Racing Mini here at Puro Dakar

Refinance Your Car…Save Hundreds

Quinn Cody Dakar 2011 stage 6 comments

Pendejo Expianista — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 20:27:02 +0000

Baja 1000 winner and Dakar Rally Raid newbie Quinn Cody talks about stage 6 of the Dakar 2011 Rally in Chile.

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Get your daily fix of rally Raid @ Puro Dakar with constant race updates, no B.S., unbiased race the deserts discussion forum and Live stream

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Jonah is happy even though suffering the setback of having lost is bike’s seat just 110km from the finish. Still, he remains 7th on the rally.

Tough second stage for Team Hummer

Puronator — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:40:00 +0000

After mechanical problems at the 238 km point on the day’s special, American Robby Gordon (Hummer) was able to resume racing, but lost more than 35 minutes at the roadside. Robby Gordon finished 47th in the stage after a delay for mechanical problems and fell to 21st overall, more than one hour behind the front-runners. Also bad luck for the other US American Mark Miller which rolled his VW race Touareg. O-tone Mark Miller tweet” “More rain and today it caught me out and I had a big crash, but we continued and VW team fixin car for tomorrow! Great team” Driver interviews, stage summary news bulletins, Dakar Google map and more at Puro Dakar covering the #Dakar2011

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Credits: SpeedEnergy Team Hummer Gordon Maindru Photo

This race breaks people, it makes grown men cry!

Suppen Kaspar — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 15:55:32 +0000

Born in the scorching sands of Africa, motorsport’s ultimate endurance event will once again test the mettle of some of the world’s bravest drivers next month. Its late creator described it as “a challenge for those who go, a dream for those who stay behind” — and the Dakar Rally has lost none of its daring appeal since moving to South America three years ago. On Saturday, 430 vehicles cars, motorcycles, trucks and quad bikes — will line up on Buenos Aires’ Avenue of July 9 to begin a 15-day trek through the Andes mountains and Atacama desert into northern Chile, then back down into Argentina. The race has been contested since 1978, after Frenchman Thierry Sabine lost his way during the previous year’s Abidjan-Nice rally. Sabine was so captivated by his experience in the Libyan Desert that he sought to create an event where competitors could enjoy such a stunning setting, and the Paris-Dakar rally was born – a grueling 6,000-mile route from France to Senegal.
It has enjoyed a rich and varied history, with moments of triumph and tragedy punctuating its 32-year story. In 1986, its founding father Sabine died along with four others in a helicopter crash in Mali during the eighth edition of the race. Then 22 years later, four French tourists were murdered in the north-African country of Mauritania, and following terrorist threats the 29th staging was duly canceled as competitors gathered in the Portuguese city of Lisbon for pre-race scrutineering. In the wake of those events, race organizers decided to relocate the rally for the following year, so the Dakar moved to a new continent in 2009.

One competitor who knows all about the event’s challenges is Tamsin Jones, who finished 87th out of 88 riders in the motorbike category in 2010 to become only the second British woman to complete the race. “There were times when I loved it, times I hated it and times when I was terrified. Actually by the end of the rally I was terrified nearly every day,”.
“The guys I used to ride with always talked about the Dakar, and I remember how awesome it looked when I first watched it on the television. It was the adventure and endurance challenge that really got me. “To me and the people I ride with, it is the biggest motorbike challenge in the world.” Jones admits that the only thing that kept her going was “the fear” that she would have to return in 2011 if she did not finish the race.

“I was so happy to finish,” the 38-year-old said. “I don’t think anyone realizes what goes into preparing for the rally. I started with no funds and no mechanical knowledge. “I ended up with over $60,000 of sponsorship, and I was able to strip the back-end of my Yamaha and clean the carburetor in the desert, in the dark.” Despite its route through hard-to-reach locations, Jones said crowds flocked to watch the race. “Thousands of people get whipped up into frenzy. Most of the first couple of days’ spectators is lining the whole course,” she said.
“Day one in 2010 was over 300 kilometers and literally the whole route was lined with crowds, they were swarming onto the motorways.” And what can any potential competitors expect if they front up to the start line?
“It’s an unbelievable experience. This race breaks people, it makes grown men cry. It takes the lives of top riders. You put your life and everyone’s around you on hold for a year so you can do a two-week race,” Jones said.
“It is a brutal test of endurance where you have to dig deeper than you ever have before to get to the end. I’ve got to say I’m actually still traumatized by it. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

Check our Special Dakar section – Puro Dakar – for all updates during the next 2 weeks. There is a – approximate – Google map of the race course as well a daily section as the race progresses.
Live TV stream from TV station in Argentina and much more. Visit the Dakar special Edition here…

Alfie Cox miles for smiles

Memin Pinguin — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:10:54 +0000

South African off-road racing legend and KTM ‘supremo’ Alfie Cox has once again set his sights on the world’s most famous off-road motorsport event … the Dakar rally. Alfie together with his good friend Juergen Schroeder will be racing a South African prepared Nissan Navara over the tortuous 9500km 13 stage course through South America. This is very much an international collaboration between South Africa based Alfie Cox Racing and German based PS Laser Racing who are the key sponsors. Not only will Alfie and Juergen be tackling the hardest rally in the world but they will also be challenging themselves to make a difference in their support of the Cipla Miles for Smiles Foundation. Through their efforts they hope to raise funds and awareness of under-privileged children afflicted with facial deformity. Joining them on this goodwill crusade will also be Iain Stevenson, a KwaZulu Natal based wireless communications entrepreneur who is meeting his ‘Everest’ as he tackles his first Dakar on a KTM motorbike supplied and prepared by Alfie.

Following Alfie, Juergen and Iain is also a dedicated team of supporters who will be making the long journey across to South America to cheer on the racers. These die-hard fans are also committing themselves to the Miles for Smiles cause and will be helping to spread awareness where ever they go.

The Miles for Smiles team are extremely honored to have the support and commitment of the likes of Alfie, Juergen, Iain and the Dakar supporters group and we wish them all a successful Dakar.
Find more information about Southafrican racers supporting the Smiles for Miles foundation here….

MORE IMPORTANT: Please help the children by making a donation – visit Miles for Smiles

Robby Gordon TV interview and VW Touareg airfreight

Pendejo Expianista — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 04:42:30 +0000

When is a Hummer, not just a Hummer? When it’s tricked out for racing by NASCAR driver Robby Gordon’s crew. Robby Gordon heading to South America for the 2011 Dakar Rally. A TV interview with Robby Gordon prior to shipping out the Speed Energy Hummers for the Dakar Rally Raid. Team Dakar USA showed that they a serious contender in the Dakar and could compete with the best off-road teams in the world if there are no technical challenges. Also more VW Motorsports pre-race logistics. On December 10 Volkswagen Motorsport employees carefully monitored how three of the four 228 kW (310 hp) desert prototypes were loaded and securely lashed onto special open containers. The air journey for the valuable handcrafted competition cars, estimated 1.5 million Euro each (that is 1.98435 million $ U.S.), was also prepared meticulously this year. “One car left on 12 December, two on 16 December and the last one on 19 December,” explains Lutz Meyer, responsible for logistics at Volkswagen Motorsport.

Find the Robby Gordon interview here

The unique VW airfreight story here…

Volkswagen final preperations

Memin Pinguin — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:42:07 +0000

Without Aral and BP the Volkswagen train would not roll a single metre during the Dakar Rally. In January Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E), Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D), Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA) and Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA/D) and their four new Race Touareg 3 rely on fuels supplied by the internationally active company, which numbers among the partners in Volkswagen’s “Dakar” program. The two Race Trucks also entered in the competition are supplied with the same fuel, while the remaining chase vehicles are supplied from public fuel stations along the route. Before Volkswagen fights again in 2011 for victory in the world’s toughest desert rally using Aral Ultimate Diesel fuel, the products start a long journey. The liquid energy is transported by sea to South America. “Since transport between Argentina and Chile is prohibited, every country is supplied by ship,” explains Lutz Meyer, responsible for the logistics at Volkswagen Motorsport. “12,000 liters are on their way to Argentina in 60 barrels of 200 liters a piece. The transport takes 18 days. A further 13,000 liters are planned for Chile. These barrels are even traveling for 29 days.”
Read more on the VW – Aral – BP logistic for this years Dakar Rally here…

Check the final test in snow and ice in Germany with Mark Miller and the Touareg 3 here…

Press Release Volkswagen Motorsport – Puro Off Road is registered news user with Volkswagen Motorsport and Volkswagen of America

Mini All4 Racing and Volvo XC60 CC Dakar Rally

Smoerbrod — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:48:49 +0000

Mini All4 racing X-raid team and Pewano Team Volvo XC60 CC release exciting news for Rally Raid fans. The Dakar 2010 will see a Team Xraid entrance with the all new All4 Racing Monster Energy Mini driven by the all French rally crew of rally pilot Guerlain Chicherit and co-driver Michel Périn in January’s 33rd Dakar Argentina-Chile rally Raid. The new MINI All4 Racing will form part of X-raid’s seven-car Dakar team – the largest ever entered by a team in the 33-year history of the world’s most famous off-road rally – and the third of three vehicles running on the event under the Monster Energy X-raid Team banner.
The Mini will be powered by a variable twin-turbo BMW diesel engine that is fitted to the 2011-specification BMW X3 CC and built by Steyr, the same place as the Mini and BMW diesel engines are made. The power unit delivers in the region of 315hp and 710Nm of torque. This is an increase compared to the output of the 2010-specification BMW X3 CCs used on the Dakar Rally to seal fourth and fifth places last January.
Compared to the BMW X3CC, the Mini will be characterized by improved handling as the overall length is shorter and it is lower. We have also been able to improve on many other smaller details, such as the relocation of smaller components to lower the center of gravity. Read more on this all new Mini All4racing in our Dakar Rally Raid section here…

Pewano Volvo XC60 CC Volvo of Sweden is supporting the private “Pewano Team”, which is building two Volvo XC60 CC. Head of the project is Pelle Wallentheim, a motorsport-specialist in Rally and STCC-Touring Car Championship. The Pewano XC60 RR, will be a developed and refined version of the predecessor Volvo XC60. The Volvo construction is based on a tubular frame with carbon-skin and will be powered by a Volvo 2,4 liter-engine. The Pewano team talking about a “comeback” of Jutta Kleinschmidt. “This sport is dominated by men” team principal Wallentheim told, “so we want to go our way with a women-team.” If everything works out as planned Pewano XC60 RR will be competing in the 2012 Dakar rally. read more on this Dakar project at Puro Dakar here…