Tuesday 18th November 2003

Touareg for Dakar

VW have been testing in Morocco ready for the rally in January

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Volkswagen has subjected its new "Race-Touareg" to a programme of rigorous endurance tests held in Morocco. Works driver Jutta Kleinschmidt and co-driver Fabrizia Pons have are now preparing the new Race-Touareg for its competition debut - the Dakar Rally in January 2004.

"One thing is certain: the Race-Touareg, with all of its redesigned components, must prove itself during the harsh daily grind of the desert ”, explained Motorsport Director Kris Nissen.

"Then it's a question of working out the optimum interaction between all systems. The suspension, the four-wheel drive and the characteristics of the five-cylinder 2.3 litre TDI engine must be synchronized with one another and, in addition suit the demands of our drivers . "

Link: www.dakar.com

[danger mouse]

VW said:

"Then it's a question of working out the optimum interaction between all systems. The suspension, the four-wheel drive and the characteristics of the five-cylinder 2.3 litre TDI engine must be synchronized with one another..."

Would one have hoped this might have happened before the car was launched to the public? Clearly the spokesperson meant for racing in the desert as opposed to carting kids to school up and down treacherous kerb stones, but it still seems an illconsidered comment...

...to a pedant like me anyway.

Has anyone seen one on the road yet?

Iv'e spotted loads of Cayennes, but none of these.


Mouse

[sb-1]

I've seen 2 or 3 Tourags on the road.