HS Rally Team 4700 km endurance test

HS Rally Team with driver Matthias Kahle and navigator Dr. Thomas M. Schünemann impressed with solid performance at the Silk Way Rally finishing in fourth place overall and winning the their class. Despite some “teething” problems in their new SMG diesel buggy they ended the rally as the best independent team. A day after crossing the finish line in Sochi Matthias Kahle and Dr. Thomas M. Schünemann look back at the 2010 Silk Way Rally. In a interview they talk about their debut in the SMG diesel buggy, experienced surprises and the differences from the factory teams.

Q: Thomas, the Silk Way Rally ended and your HS Rally Team has occupied the fourth place. How satisfied are you with the results?
Dr.Thomas M. Schünemann: Fourth place is a huge success for us. We are the best independent team. We were already clear before the rally that we are not able to keep up with the favorite VW. The play simply in another league. We are proud that we have achieved the maximum – just because the rally was not always easy for us. We had many minor problems. But I think we deserve the fourth place.

Q: How do you rate your performance on this rally?
Dr.Thomas M. Schünemann: Matthias and I have again learned a lot, even though we do Desert Rallies / Rally Raids since 2004. What was new for me, for example, that sometimes it is simply impossible to read the landscape. On some tests, we went and thought that there are no obstacles and then suddenly a pipeline crossed our path. When people interfere with nature, you can not read off the course in the landscape. For me this was a new phenomenon. At the same time we have seen that the other teams also have their issues and that we do not have to hide from anyone.

Q: The HS Rally Team used for the first time a diesel-buggy in competition. What experience have you gained in the past week with the new car?
Dr.Thomas M. Schünemann: We have arrived here at the Silk Way Rally knowing it is not “just” a race but also the opportunity for a full, system testing . This is our first race in the diesel-powered buggy by French designer SMG. We wanted not only to evaluate the performance of the car, but also establish the interaction with new mechanics. In a few days we merge into a good, professional team in which the language barrier does not matter. I think we have created a good environment and starting point for the 2011 Dakar.

Q: What more activities you see in the weeks leading up to the Dakar?
Dr.Thomas M. Schünemann: We have shown that the diesel-Buggy SMG is very powerful. But we also had some technical defects. In the coming weeks we will do everything possible to work on these weaker points. We have unfortunately not the same testing possibilities as the factory teams have and cannot do such extensive individual components testing. However, I am confident that we will be traveling with a very good package to Argentinia for the 2011 Dakar.

Q: Matthias, the Silk Way was your rally debut in SMG Diesel Buggy. How satisfied are you with the car?
Matthias Kahle: Because of the diesel engine the buggy has an explosive torque of 650 Newton meters. This power makes driving in the terrain much easier. In addition, the chassis is really good. We have, in the course of the rally, made the suspension softer and increases the ground clearance. All this pays off especially on the long trials of 300 or 400 kilometers.

Q: Silk Way The rally took on a totally different route than in 2009. What output did you like better?
Matthias Kahle: The rally this year was exciting and different than in 2009. We have new areas, new cities and new people seen. In addition, the route this time was challenging. I especially liked the second and third stage, as it has made driving fun. Many people say that the Silk Way Rally is a half-Dakar. But I think it’s more than that, many tests were more difficult than in South America. This time the navigation was really demanding, but we have moved even once.

Q: On the last day you have you improved to fourth. Have you expected?
Matthias Kahle: Yes and no. The time-gap to the front-runners of the rally was rather large and under regular circumstances the VW’s ahead untouchable for us. But on the other hand, one can never be sure in a desert rally. The rally has once again shown that you have to be highly concentrated from the first to the last kilometer. And that is really only at the finish line where you can lean back and celebrate. We were at the Silk Way Rally 2009 with bad luck because we’ve exceeded the maximum time just in one day. This time we did better.