Team SMG Philippe Gache
SMG is a team of enthusiasts who have been working year in year out for 9 years together and developed a certain expertise in motor performance on any surface. After five participation in the Dakar Rally, SMG is now considered as the best private team (first private team in the Dakar 2006). Since 2007 SMG wishes to challenge the leading teams and compete with renowned car constructors. As of today the SMG team is not an armada but a little structure of 10 united and well trained people working together all year long in the Vallauris workshops, near Cannes (France). “Each technician going with us to Dakar at least spent a whole year working on the buggy”, Philippe Gache explains. “They all know each part of the car and can analyze it perfectly well”. With two 6×6 and one 4×4 trucks racing in T5 and T4 – and two assistance 4WD following the buggies closely, the SMG team is fully independent and self-reliant. Indeed, self-reliance is the team motto since everything, from design and manufacture to assembly is homemade. Only electric circuits and carbon-Kevlar bodies are subcontracted to the best specialists, outside of SMG workshops. The engine, a big American V8, is specifically set in test bench and shock absorbers are specifically designed for the buggy. Thanks to its professionalism, organization and proven track record, the SMG team is definitely playing in the major league with the best rally-raid teams.
The car:
- Overall length: 4,420 mm
- Overall width: 2,170 mm
- Wheelbase: 3,060 mm
- Front track width: 1,900 mm
- Rear track width: 1,850 mm
- V8 7 litre gasoline engine
- 2 valves for each cylinder, lateral camshaft
- Injection: MOTEC
- Transmission: MENDEOLA Sequential 4 speed transaxle
- Clutch: AP Racing sintered metal triple-plate
- Suspension system: Front: double wishbone suspension system
- Shock Absorbers: (4.42 Solution F)
- 1 coil spring on each front wheel
- 1 coil spring on each rear wheel + 1 shock absorber
- Brakes: Front: 280 mm ventilated brake disc, 4 piston calliper
- Rear: CNC 300 mm ventilated brake disc, CNC 5 piston calliper
- Chassis :Multitube chassis with central rear engine
- 400 litre tank
- Carbon–Kevlar body
- Kevlar floor pan
- Weight : 1,580 kg
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