Dakar VW Touaregs entered in the Baja 500!!

[spalind]

Anybody have some specs on the VW's, like wheel base and track width and weight? I saw the engine output at 285 hp, but what about peak torque?

The VW Dakar site says 285 HP, >600 nm of torque (someone else can do the conversion to ft. lbs.), 2500 cm3 displacement, 6 speed gearbox, permanent 4WD, and dual turbochargers....

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[Jerry Zaiden]

What would some of say if Hardesty entered his 10 car in class 1? Would you talk crap on him? He would be in the top 5 in class 1 if he did enter there. Why? He can drive and his car is a good as it gets. He got 5th overall in Primm last year against TT's and class ones. His car has a 4cyl. in it!
These VW's can do very well in this kind of race. From the looks of the pictures they are very high quality and hold to FIA standards. These cars come with a world class team and Mark Miller in the mix. I say they will top 20 if all goes well for them.

I say this is great for desert racing on the global level!

[desertbull]

What would some of say if Hardesty entered his 10 car in class 1? Would you talk crap on him? He would be in the top 5 in class 1 if he did enter there. Why? He can drive and his car is a good as it gets. He got 5th overall in Primm last year against TT's and class ones. His car has a 4cyl. in it!
These VW's can do very well in this kind of race. From the looks of the pictures they are very high quality and hold to FIA standards. These cars come with a world class team and Mark Miller in the mix. I say they will top 20 if all goes well for them.

I say this is great for desert racing on the global level!

Hardesty has entered Class 1 in his 10 car at the Baja 500...

[Jerry Zaiden]

I just checked SCORE's site with last years results and Hardesty would have had 8th in TT and 4th in Class one last year in the Baja 500. 4 cyl of furry!
I think these VW's will do well if they stay together.

[bajafox]

Hardesty is probably pulling 20+ inches of travel all around

I dont think these VW's are close to that

[241rivmasta]

Not that l have raced in the USA (Mexico) but all the Dakar cars are built with a hell of a lot of U.S. parts and technology so they should put up a good showing. A company like VW doesn't do anything half arsed it knows it's limitations and doesn't want to hurt it's sales so all they will want to do is finish and be able to say that they are Baja tough.

[Benny Metcalf]

Hardesty is probably pulling 20+ inches of travel all around

I dont think these VW's are close to that

I guess you will just have to wait and find out...

[BajaFand]

All the top contenders in the Dakar races are 4WD. If RG would have had 4WD out there he would have a much better chance for the overall in Dakar I think. He got stuck a few times last year and that killed him on time. He still had an awesome finish, think if he would have had 4WD and the same suspension setup and the same amount of wheel travel, who knows how well he could have done?

I am very excited to see the Touregs in Baja and I think they will do well, but I don't think they can beat the Trophy Trucks or class 1's for the 4-wheel overall. I say top 10 overall is definately a possibility but not 1st. However I say best of luck to them in proving me wrong, good luck Mark and Geniel!!!!

[nimrod]

The 4 wheel drive class is heavily regulated at Dakar. It is the "Factory" class. They are limited to around 9.5" of travel by the rules. Robby runs the 2 wheel drive class because it is the most similiar to what he runs. If he were to run 4 wheel drive he would need something like the VW's, BMW'S and Mitso's. The Hummer runs in the buggy class which on paper looks to have a HUGE advantage, but once you hit the sand the 4 wheel drive guys get a big advantage, plus the 4 wheel drive normally corners faster so it kinda evens out. Make no mistake, these are world class cars driven by some of the best drivers in the world. They will be VERY competetive.

I do not know that much about the rules.....Fly or Chase can probably answer in much greater detail.

[Mark Newhan]

Robby's down time at this years Dakar was mostly fuel related. The Tourages will do good, but I dont think that they are capable of an OA. They would have to hope for some major fallout.

As for nerfing... I think that they will have a target on them by virtue of all of the hype that they will get. The is no way that the class 1 guy's are going to resist that, especially if they catch the VW's in a rough section, their little way of saying "welcome VW".

If the VW's do good it will be bad for the independant racers, All of the FIA factory teams will flock to Baja to "teach" Baja racers. The factories will raise the bar even higher than it is now just to earn their place in the history books. Baja's legend is known throughout the world. The Europeans would love to reign supreme down south, and "show" the American off road racers how to do it. Good luck with that! lol!