The truth about Nasser Al-Attiyah

[Dirty Harry]

I would bet money he drove both equally hard. The hummer couldnt take the beating the VW could.

Bob Gordon was explaining to me how the two cars have to be driven entirely differently. The VW is geared really short and made to accelerate hard and then brake hard before the rough since it had limited travel, then accelerate hard again. That is why they work so well on the rally roads of Argentina. The Hummer is designed to get up to speed and then stay there regardless of the terrain. That is why it works so well in the dunes of the Atacama.

Also, the VW was essentially rebuilt each night with no expense spared. Robby does not have that luxury, particularly when he is short a support truck the first half of the race.

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[JRod]

Why wasn't Miller chosen anyways. American, and no doubt a great driver. Plus he probably speaks English. Would have been my pick besides me.

That and I don't know if there are any tire sponsorship conflicts? Isn't Mark a BFG driver or did that come with the VW deal? I dunno... But like I said somehwere in one of the daily tracking threads - an RG/JC & MM/Andy Grider team would be unbelievable...

Mark had a deal where VW PAID him to drive. Robby isn't paying anyone to drive one of his cars, on the contrary someone has always paid him for that privilege. This year was no different with Nasser (rumored to be around $1M).

I believe it was one million EUROS so the deal would have been worth EVEN MORE!

al bundy is also entered in an old dodge dart with a bad motor and a co dog named buck.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

[Mark Stahl]

Did anyone else notice Nasser being interviewed in his Hummer after the second or third stage drinking a Red Bull? Did he know RG owns Speed Energy?

[desertbull]

Did anyone else notice Nasser being interviewed in his Hummer after the second or third stage drinking a Red Bull? Did he know RG owns Speed Energy?

He's a Red Bull Athlete ... but paid RG ALOT of $$$ to race the Hummer...I surmise you get to drink what you want when your paying the bills versus being a paid athlete.

http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/...Sports+Various

[9five9]

It's just like seeing Steve Barlow dressed in metal mulisha gear, drinking a red bull..

[svaras]

Bob Gordon was explaining to me how the two cars have to be driven entirely differently. The VW is geared really short and made to accelerate hard and then brake hard before the rough since it had limited travel, then accelerate hard again. That is why they work so well on the rally roads of Argentina. The Hummer is designed to get up to speed and then stay there regardless of the terrain. That is why it works so well in the dunes of the Atacama.

Also, the VW was essentially rebuilt each night with no expense spared. Robby does not have that luxury, particularly when he is short a support truck the first half of the race.

Hey Harry, nice to know that you arrived home ok.
Hope to see you soon at the US.
Rgds
Sebastian

[Tuki H.E.A.T.]

I would bet money he drove both equally hard. The hummer couldnt take the beating the VW could.

Bob Gordon was explaining to me how the two cars have to be driven entirely differently. The VW is geared really short and made to accelerate hard and then brake hard before the rough since it had limited travel, then accelerate hard again. That is why they work so well on the rally roads of Argentina. The Hummer is designed to get up to speed and then stay there regardless of the terrain. That is why it works so well in the dunes of the Atacama.

Also, the VW was essentially rebuilt each night with no expense spared. Robby does not have that luxury, particularly when he is short a support truck the first half of the race.

OK, I see what is Nasser was used to.
Also, I get that the water line problem was bought by Nasser himself because he was smacking the car every time he could. Though, I think there is room for tire mounting improvement there.

About the belt issue, was it finally found the cause of the problem? Or was it just bad luck? Or was it the hard driving of Nasser that misaligned something?

[Yumaoffroad]

OK, I see what is Nasser was used to.
Also, I get that the water line problem was bought by Nasser himself because he was smacking the car every time he could. Though, I think there is room for tire mounting improvement there.

About the belt issue, was it finally found the cause of the problem? Or was it just bad luck? Or was it the hard driving of Nasser that misaligned something?

data log from nasser's hummer showed every time the belt broke he was downshifting really hard while on the gas so.....

[Dirty Harry]

About the belt issue, was it finally found the cause of the problem? Or was it just bad luck? Or was it the hard driving of Nasser that misaligned something?

There is no shrouding over the engine and rocks get kicked up into the rear panels by the back tires and can hit the belt and pulleys. This is done for weight savings but some mesh over the accessory drive would probably be worthwhile.

Bob Gordon drove the Qatari H3 for the second week with a new belt and no other changes. Obviously he was not racing but he wasn't exactly putting around either.

[Samco Fab]

I wonder if Nasser figured out what broke the belts, and when he was too far down to win the overall, he broke all of the belts so that he did not have to work to finish the rally, and not look bad. Just point fingers at the vehicle, say it sucks and say your Citroen will be so much better next year.

He is a good driver, and fast, but a great driver adapts to the vehicle below them, they look at it as a tool, and they learn how to use that specific tool the best, and to make them last.