Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Volkswagen Amarok to tackle desert as official support vehicle of Dakar]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/volkswagen-amarok-to-tackle-desert-as-official-support-vehicle-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/volkswagen-amarok-to-tackle-desert-as-official-support-vehicle-o/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/17/volkswagen-amarok-to-tackle-desert-as-official-support-vehicle-o/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Volkswagn Amarok pickup - click above to enlarge

Two months from now, Volkswagen will be expanding its involvement in the annual Dakar Rally in South America. Just as they did last January, factory-backed teams will be competing in the 5.600 mile race through Argentina and Chile. However, this time, those outfits will be fielding four race Touaregs rather than two.

Perhaps more interesting is official word that VW's new Amarok pickup truck will be the official support truck of the for the entire rally. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has struck a deal with the race organizers, and as a result, the specially outfitted Amaroks will travel the same route as the competitors carrying media, checking out route conditions, and carrying VW crews and race organizers. The Amarok will be built by VW in Argentina starting in 2010, but the automaker has repeatedly said the truck won't be offered in the U.S. market. Learn more by checking out the official press release after the jump.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen Amarok to tackle desert as official support vehicle of Dakar

Volkswagen Amarok to tackle desert as official support vehicle of Dakar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amarokDakardakar rallyDakarRallydesert racingdesert rallyDesertRacingDesertRallyvolkswagenvolkswagen amarokVolkswagen pickupVolkswagenAmarokVolkswagenPickupVWVW AmarokVW commercialVW pickupVwAmarokVwCommercialVwPickupTue, 17 Nov 2009 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[KTM pulls out of Dakar Rally]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/06/ktm-pulls-out-of-dakar-rally/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/06/ktm-pulls-out-of-dakar-rally/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/06/ktm-pulls-out-of-dakar-rally/#commentsFiled under: ,



Austrian motorcycle maker KTM stakes its reputation on the ability of its off-road motorcycles to tackle the toughest terrain on earth, and it's made a habit of proving these capabilities with both a factory team and a far-reaching privateer support program in the Dakar Rally each year. Up through 2009, that is - KTM has just announced that it's pulling out of next year's event.

The reason cited for the shocking decision is the French ASO's ruling that all motorcycles taking part in the Dakar race in 2010 must use engines displacing 450cc or smaller. KTM's entries all use engines displacing a little over 650cc and will therefore not qualify. Instead of waiting for next year to react, KTM "has decided to immediately accept the consequences and announces its withdrawal from the Dakar."

Whether this is nothing more than a case of sour grapes or an intentional move to limit KTM's chances of winning a ninth-consecutive victory at the Dakar Rally, it's disappointing to a whole bunch of fans with orange-colored blood running through their veins. For what it's worth, KTM says it will continue racing, just not in the Dakar. Make the jump to read KTM's official press release. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: KTM via Bikes in the Fast Lane | Photo: AlexCamPro]

Continue reading KTM pulls out of Dakar Rally

KTM pulls out of Dakar Rally originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi joins makers like Honda, Audi, Porsche, Suzuki, Subaru, and Kawasaki in pulling out of some form of motorsports because of... well, do we really need to say it? Neither the Mitsubishi Pajeros that won the Dakar Rally twelve times in total (out of 26 attempts), nor the diesel Racing Lancer that earned a seventh place in this year's race, will be seen plying the sands again any time soon. The Japanese automaker has ended its factory efforts in order to focus on its core business. Having stamped its red rhombus logo all over the Dakar after seven consecutive Dakar victories, its presence will be sorely missed come 2010. Official press release after the jump.

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Continue reading Mitsubishi pulls out of Dakar and other cross-country races

Mitsubishi pulls out of Dakar and other cross-country races originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dakardakar rallyDakarRallyeconomymitsubishimitsubishi racing lancermitsubishi ralliartmitsubishi ralliart racing lancerMitsubishiRacingLancerMitsubishiRalliartMitsubishiRalliartRacingLancerWed, 04 Feb 2009 11:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Robby Gordon signs up for the 2010 Dakar, adds a third HUMMER]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/04/robby-gordon-signs-up-for-the-2010-dakar-adds-a-third-hummer/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/04/robby-gordon-signs-up-for-the-2010-dakar-adds-a-third-hummer/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/04/robby-gordon-signs-up-for-the-2010-dakar-adds-a-third-hummer/#commentsFiled under: ,



One of two American's on the final podium, Robby Gordon finished third in this year's Dakar Rally. Driving a HUMMER H3, he took the bottom step behind South African Giniel De Villiers and American Mark Miller, both of whom were driving VW's diesel Race Touareg2 and ended Mitsubishi's vise-like grip on the rostrum. In fact, if Carlos Sainz hadn't crashed, the Touaregs would have taken all three top spots.

Team Gordon was driving HUMMER H3s, and Robby's third place was joined by teammate Eric Vigoroux's 13th place. For 2010, the team is going to add a third H3 driven by former F1 and IndyCar driver Eliseo Salazar. The 55-year-old Salazar might seem like an unlikely choice, but he is Chilean, and he currently pilots a Mitsubishi in the Chilean Rally Championship. Should the Dakar return to South America next year, he should make a decent addition to the team. Team Gordon just might want to stock up on HUMMER parts before then...

[Source: Team Gordon]

Robby Gordon signs up for the 2010 Dakar, adds a third HUMMER originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Dakar Rally is famous for its unfortunate history of taking the lives of those who dare to take part in the endurance race, and this year's running is no exception. The body of 49-year-old French motorcyclist Pascal Terry has been found after the rider went missing for three days. Race officials had gone searching for Terry after they received word that his Yamaha motorcycle had run out of fuel. Pascal's body was found in the shade near his motorcycle and he reportedly had abundant food and water. An autopsy revealed that the rider died of a respiratory and cardiac arrest caused by a lung edema. Here's hoping that the rest of the field finishes the rally with no further casualties. Thanks for the tip, Ashutosh.

[Source: The Canberra Times]

Dakar rally claims its first casualty originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The preparations have begun for the race formerly known as the Paris-Dakar. The entrants have begun to gather in Le Havre, France, for scrutineering before shipping out to South America for the Dakar's run across Argentina and Chile. Mike Werner was in Normandy and captured in photographs what was going on. If you ever wondered wanted to see what it takes to get ready for a big-deal international race, the words to describe the images are "intense preparation" -- right down to making sure the vehicle sound level doesn't breach 95 decibels. Follow the link to check out all the photos. And get ready to rumble.

[Source: Motorbiker]

Dakar scrutineering, in pictures originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dakardakar rallyDakarRallymotorsportsparis dakarparis dakar rallyParisDakarParisDakarRallySat, 29 Nov 2008 14:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Volkwagen readying Touareg 2 for 2009 Dakar]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/27/volkwagen-readying-touareg-2-for-2009-dakar/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/27/volkwagen-readying-touareg-2-for-2009-dakar/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/27/volkwagen-readying-touareg-2-for-2009-dakar/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Touareg 2 Race

Volkswagen Motorsport is putting four factory-backed teams in next year's 'Dakar' Rally, which will actually be held in South America, and they'll all be driving the new Race Touareg 2. The insanely intricate spaceframe chassis vehicles are being built in Germany and will use will use a 2.5-liter TDI with 276 hp and. The 15-stage race is expected to be more grueling than usual because of the extreme changes in altitude and terrain, but perhaps it will give other teams a chance to break Mitsubishi's seven-year chokehold on the winner's dais. Volkswagen's best chance at victory could be with driver Carlos Sainz, the 1990 WRC champion, and navigator Michel Perlin, a three-time Dakar winning navigator. The last -- and only -- time VW won the Dakar Rally was in 1980, with the Volkswagen Iltis.

Gallery: Volkswagen Race Touareg 2

Continue reading Volkwagen readying Touareg 2 for 2009 Dakar

Volkwagen readying Touareg 2 for 2009 Dakar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Following terrorist threats that forced the cancellation of this year's Dakar Rally, race organizers ASO went searching the world for alternative locations. They settled on South America, with plans to hold additional events in Central Europe. However, if the geopolitical situation changes, Dakar could be back in Africa by 2012. ASO chief Patrice Clerc has expressed his desire to bring the event back to its roots. In order for the Dakar Rally to return to Dakar, however, the threats made against the event, its spectators and participants by local cells of al-Qaeda would need to have been eliminated, which sounds ominous for whoever made the threats.

[Source: PistonHeads]

Dakar organizers eye return to... Dakar originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dakar rallydakar return to africaDakarRallyDakarReturnToAfricalisbon dakar rallyLisbonDakarRallyThu, 27 Mar 2008 15:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Mitsubishi confirms participation in Central Europe Rally]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/mitsubishi-confirms-participation-in-central-europe-rally/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/mitsubishi-confirms-participation-in-central-europe-rally/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/11/mitsubishi-confirms-participation-in-central-europe-rally/#commentsFiled under: ,



After the cancellation of the Dakar Rally due to terrorist threats, the Amaury Sport Organization decided to bump up its launch of the Dakar Series, a new campaign that attempts to bring the thrills of the Dakar to venues around the globe.

The first event of the series, the Central Europe Rally, will begin on April 20th and run through the 26th, and Mitsubishi is one of the first major teams to confirm participation. Mitsubishi walked away with the Dakar title last year and had already been signed up to compete in the traditional Dakar Rally before its untimely demise. The Central Europe Rally won't replace the Dakar event, as it's been rescheduled for a future date in South America.

Mitsubishi's press release is posted after the jump with the team's complete driver lineup. And we're still waiting to see if BMW, Volkswagen and KTM are planning to participate.

Continue reading Mitsubishi confirms participation in Central Europe Rally

Mitsubishi confirms participation in Central Europe Rally originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>central europe rallyCentralEuropeRallydakar rallydakar seriesDakarRallyDakarSeriesmitsubishiTue, 11 Mar 2008 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Terror-stricken Dakar Rally heads to Central Europe, begins a new series]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/08/dakar-rally-heads-to-central-europe-begins-a-new-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/08/dakar-rally-heads-to-central-europe-begins-a-new-series/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/08/dakar-rally-heads-to-central-europe-begins-a-new-series/#commentsFiled under:



Amaury Sport Organization, the group behind the Dakar Rally, has found a new venue after threats of terrorism caused the group to cancel the annual rally last month. The newly rescheduled and renamed race will be held April 20th through 26th in Romania and Hungary, offering a markedly different venue for an event that would otherwise be held in the arid landscape of the Sahara.

The Central Europe Rally will cover some 3,000 kilometers over the course of six days, with around half of the competitions taking place on special stages. While the title is different, all the big name teams from Dakar will be in attendance, including BMW, KTM, Mitsubishi, Schlesser and Volkswagen.

This first event also stands as the inaugural race of the "Dakar Series," which was supposed start in 2009, but will now begin a year ahead of schedule. The new series seeks to bring the excitement and media attention of the Dakar Rally to a number of other events spread across the globe and has been in the works for the last several years. Here's to the A.S.O. for turning lemons into Margaritas. The full press release is after the jump.

[Source: Amaury Sport Organization via WCF]

Continue reading Terror-stricken Dakar Rally heads to Central Europe, begins a new series

Terror-stricken Dakar Rally heads to Central Europe, begins a new series originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a.s.o.amaury sport organizationAmaurySportOrganizationasocentral europe rallyCentralEuropeRallydakar rallyDakarRallyFri, 08 Feb 2008 16:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Chilean gov't offers up desert for Dakar Rally]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/08/chilean-govt-offers-up-desert-for-dakar-rally/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/08/chilean-govt-offers-up-desert-for-dakar-rally/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/08/chilean-govt-offers-up-desert-for-dakar-rally/#commentsFiled under:



The head of Chilean Tourism, Oscar Santelices, has offered up his homeland as a possible venue for the recently cancelled Dakar Rally. The grueling event, which was recently cancelled due to terrorist threats, might be rescheduled in a different location sometime in February and Chile is now in the running with Australia, China and Russia.

If the event would take place in Chile, parts of the race would be held through the northern Atacama Desert, apparently the world's driest arid landsacape, and the local for the annual Patagonia-Atacama rally. We're sure that Santelices offer is more than just a goodwill gesture, considering the amount of revenue the event could provide, however, he made it clear to local media that no financial support would be offered from the government.

Thanks to all that tipped in!

[Source: ESPN]

Chilean gov't offers up desert for Dakar Rally originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chilechileandakar rallyDakarRallyTue, 08 Jan 2008 20:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Dakar Rally cancelled]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/04/dakar-rally-cancelled/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/04/dakar-rally-cancelled/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/04/dakar-rally-cancelled/#commentsFiled under: ,

Since 1979, the Dakar Rally has never been canceled. Individual stages have been eliminated, but never the entire rally. This year is marks the end of the run: Dakar organizer ASO have decided to cancel the race in light of terrorist threats from Mauritania. The rally was to run from Lisbon, Portugal to Dakar, Senegal from January 5-20.

Mauritania was formerly a French colony, and the ASO (Amaury Sport Organization, the same folks who put on the Tour de France) is a French organization. It appears that anything French is a target for the time being: on December 28, 2007, four French tourists were murdered in Mauritania by "a branch of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb," and threats have also been made directly against the race.

Eight of the race's fifteen stages were to take place in Mauritania. After being advised not to hold the race by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ASO felt it had no choice but to cancel this year's edition. It's regrettable, and a sad day for motorsport, but it had to be done. Follow the jump to read the full press release.

Thanks for the tip, Young!

[Source: BBC]

Continue reading Dakar Rally cancelled

Dakar Rally cancelled originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 paris dakar rally2008ParisDakarRallyamaury sport organizationAmaurySportOrganizationasodakardakar rallyDakarRallylisbon dakarLisbonDakarparis dakarparis dakar rallyParisDakarParisDakarRallyrally raidRallyRaidFri, 04 Jan 2008 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Mitsubishi Delica D:5 will serve as Dakar support vehicle]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/20/mitsubishi-delica-d-5-will-serve-as-dakar-support-vehicle/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/20/mitsubishi-delica-d-5-will-serve-as-dakar-support-vehicle/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/20/mitsubishi-delica-d-5-will-serve-as-dakar-support-vehicle/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mitsubishi Delica D;5 Dakar support vehicle

Mitsubishi has announced that its new Delica D:5 minivan will serve as a support vehicle for the automaker's factory Dakar effort, which will feature another new product, the restyled 2-door Pajero, in the starring role. The stylish new Delica -- a Japan-only model, unfortunately -- was revealed by Mitsubishi at the end of last month. The consumer version receives power from its 2.4-liter engine, channeled through an AWD system. The Delica's role in the Dakar rally will undoubtedly help the people mover bolster its modest soft-roading pretensions with its home-market customers.

The actual Dakar Delica will be suitably modified to handle the 8,000 KM trek. Naturally, safety equipment such as a roll cage and proper bucket seats will be fitted, and the van's mechanicals will be fortified to survive the punishment it's likely to face as it bounces across the desert. The standard suspension will be reinforced and see rally-spec shocks and springs added. The same goes for the wheels and tires, obviously, and the van's fuel tank will get added capacity to help minimize the risk of running out of fuel during the rally's extensive driving days.

We're looking forward to seeing how the D:5 looks in full racing livery, a preview of which you see above. If Mitsubishi's confident it can complete the event, that's enough for us. They've been at this for a while now, so they know what they're doing and how to prepare a vehicle for the event.

[Source: Carview]

Mitsubishi Delica D:5 will serve as Dakar support vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Nov 2006 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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