Volkswagen apresentou o Race Touareg 3 ao público num show espectacular
No anfiteatro em Trier com quase 2.000 anos de idade, que está na Lista de Património Mundial da UNESCO, as duplas que têm o objectivo de garantir a terceira vitória consecutiva no "Dakar" na América do Sul, que se disputa entre 1 e 16 de Janeiro de 2011, mostraram o novo protótipo de 310 cavalos em frente a uma multidão de cerca de 1.000 espectadores entusiasmados. Carlos Sainz / Lucas Cruz (E / E), Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q / D), Giniel de Villiers / Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA / D) e Mark Miller / Ralph Pitchford (E.U.A. / ZA) mostraram o "RT3" pela primeira vez.
"O Rally Dakar é uma mística. Tudo tem que ser certo para conquistá-lo", diz o diretor da Volkswagen Motorsport, Kris Nissen. "Tecnologia, pilotos, assistência e logística - cada aspecto é crucial. Qualquer pessoa com o objetivo de terminar o Dakar no topo tem que conquistar primeiro o Rally em si e, em seguida, bater os seus rivais. Aprendemos muito nos últimos anos. Todas estas coisas tinham de ser consideradas no desenvolvimento de um novo veículo - Eu acredito que encontrámos o mix ideal de revolução e evolução para o nosso Race Touareg 3."
O Rally Dakar é considerado o maior desafio do automobilismo mundial. A Volkswagen tem revolucionado o Todo-o-Terreno com o Race Touareg 2 e a sua tecnologia TDI - e venceu o lendário "Dakar" duas vezes, nos últimos dois anos. A Volkswagen é a única fabricante até agora que venceu o rally entre os automóveis com motorização diesel. Para 2011 a meta foi claramente definida: A Volkswagen quer levar o troféu para Wolfsburg pela 3ª vez. Para a Missão "Hat-Trick" neste Dakar a equipa não deixa nada ao acaso: em Janeiro de 2011 os quatro novos Race Touareg 3 - sucessor do bem sucedido Race Touareg 2 - vai atravessar a rampa de partida em Buenos Aires. Objectivo: saírem novamente vitoriosos do lendário teste de resistência que atravessa o deserto do Atacama entre a Argentina e o Chile.
Revolution and evolution: updated "Dakar” technology in the "RT3”To achieve the big aim of clinching the "Dakar” hat-trick, Volkswagen banks on the logical and consistent evolution of the Race Touareg 2 into the model version 3. The specifications issued to the engineers for this project contained three major headlines: improvement of the cooling system, optimized gearbox tuning and more power for driving at high altitudes. In addition, the engineers’ agenda included detailed work to increase the performance capabilities of the two-time Dakar Rally winning Race Touareg 2 even further. The results achieved now reveal a prototype with completely renewed aerodynamics that builds on a proven chassis of its predecessor.
Race Touareg 3: a major aerodynamic step for the "Dakar”
The Race Touareg 3 makes a big aerodynamic step forwards – the biggest one since the model change from the original Race-Touareg to model version two. The main focus during the development of the 310-hp cross-country rally prototype was put on optimising aerodynamics. In addition, the designers adapted the distinctive look of the Touareg II production "sibling” for the "Dakar” version: like the road-going model, the Race Touareg displays its dynamic character traits in its exterior form as well.
The Race Touareg 3’s most obvious change compared with the predecessor model is found in the roof area where the air flow towards the radiator, the damper cooling and the diesel fuel cooling systems has been radically changed. The objective was to improve the chimney effect to remove the heat which accumulates under the carbon fibre-reinforced cladding while optimising air supply in the process.
Intercooling – 100 per cent made by Volkswagen
For the intercooling system the team of Volkswagen Motorsport engineers drew on proven components from the production side of the house. The cooling element of the intercooler – a supplier component in any motorsport discipline – was designed and produced for the Race Touareg 3 by the prototyping department of the Volkswagen brand. Thanks to the experience gained with production vehicles the entire intercooling distance suffers less pressure losses – a gain in efficiency which is directly reflected in improved power output. Due to this and other detailed work the 2.5-litre TDI diesel engine version for the 2011 Dakar Rally now delivers 229 kW (310 hp) – seven kW (ten hp) more than the unit used in the Race Touareg 2.
Race Touareg 3 vs. Race Touareg 2: progress in the sum total of details
A revolution of the exterior form, an evolution under the bonnet – initial tests suggest how well this philosophy is working out for the detailed further development of the Race Touareg 2 into the model version 3. In three-week tests held in Spain and Morocco the new car was tested in a direct comparison with the old model. During the tests around Mahmid with temperatures of up to 48 degrees Celsius and endurance tests around Erfoud the Race Touareg 3 covered some 10,000 kilometres of simulated special stages without any significant technical problems – this equates to the double "Dakar” distance and exceeds the total number of kilometres driven in the races of an entire Formula 1 season.Experience is trumps: a proven driver line-up for the 2011 Dakar Rally
At the 2011 Dakar Rally that starts and finishes in Buenos Aires and covers about 4,500 kilometres of special stages through Argentina and Chile (01 –16 January 2011) Volkswagen will rely on four proven driver/co-driver duos. The 2010 "Dakar” winners, Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E), will pilot one of the four Race Touareg 3 as will Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D), the 2010 "Dakar” runners-up, Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA/D), the 2009 "Dakar” winners, and their team colleagues Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA), who were just barely beaten in that event.
