Team X-raid GmbH will field three BMW X3 CCs in the 2010 Dakar Rally, with X-raid Russia entering a fourth car with support from the Trebur based operation. Nine-time former winner Stéphane Peterhansel (six times on a bike and three in a car) and co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret spearhead the team’s challenge for honours in the world’s most demanding off-road rally, which starts in Buenos Aires on Friday, January 1st, returns to the city on Saturday, January 16th and finishes officially in the Argentine capital on Sunday, January 17th.
The winners of the event on four wheels in 2004, 2005 and 2007 won the recent Rally of Morocco and are joined by Catalunyan Joan ‘Nani’ Roma and his triple Dakar winning co-driver Michel Périn. Both Roma and Peterhansel joined Sven Quandt’s X-raid team mid-way through the 2009 season.
Roma won the race on a motorcycle in 2004, while Périn was victorious in 1994, 1995 and 1996 with Frenchman Pierre Lartigue and led this year’s event for several days with a rival team.
Completing the official X–raid team line-up are the defending FIA World Cup champions, Guerlain Chicherit and Tina Thörner, who won the prestigious Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Transiberico events this season.
Chicherit is one of the most improved drivers on the world stage. His experienced Swedish co-driver led the Dakar outright through southern Argentina in 2009, before falling foul of a technical ruling after being delayed by mechanical problems. Twice-winning co-driver Andreas Schulz (2001 and 2003) partnered Russia’s Leonid Novitskiy for the first time to finish second overall in the recent Rally of Morocco and the pair team up together in the X-raid Russia entry to complete the official BMW line-up for the 16-day, 9,030 km event.
Technical Details BMW X3 CC

• Engine: 6 Cylinder, 3 Litre Variable Twin Turbo Diesel, approx. 286 PS/HP at 4000 RPM
• Top speed: approx. 182 km/h
• Torque: 650 Nm / 479.41ft/lbs – 2100 U/min
• Transmission: Sadev 5 or 6 gear sequential
• Clutch: AP Racing Sinter metallic
• Differentials: X-trac
• Body: space-frame Chassis, Heggemann Carbon-Kevlar body
• Brake system: 6 Piston AP Racing
• Tires and Wheels: BBS and BF Goodrich
• Suspension: Independent Suspension Reiger Racing shocks with reservoir 250 mm travel
• Measurmenets: Length 4650 mm, Width 2000 mm, Height 1850 mm
• Empty weight: approx. 1850 kg
• Wheel base: 2850 mm
• Track width: 1815 mm
• Roll Cage: FIA Norm Heggemann
• Fueltank: FT3 Safety tank, Fuel capacity 420 liter
• Onboard Jack System: Reiger Hydraulic onboard

See the complete x-raid press release here on Puro Off-Road

Related posts:

1. French Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel joins Team x-Raid
2. BMW X-raid Team team line-up
3. Exciting and enjoyable Dakar for Team X-Raid
4. First stage 2010 Dakar Roma BMW X-Raid victorious
5. Peterhansel gives X-raid outright Dakar lead

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This post was written by Memin