One-two-three victory for Volkswagen: Carlos Sainz wins Silk Way Rally

Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz, Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen

Carlos Sainz

The fourth Volkswagen pairing, Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D), had been fighting a close duel with Sainz/Cruz and was leading the rally up to the eighth leg. After a roll-over, which both survived unharmed, they did not start to the ninth leg any more. The final leg, which was not held as a special stage, was opened by the presidents of the three hosting countries, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, the President of Turkmenistan, Dmitri Medwedew, the President of Russia, and Nursultan Nasarbajew, the President of Kazakhstan.

Kris Nissen (Volkswagen Motorsport Director)

“The ‘Dakar’ dress rehearsal was successful: The Race Touareg vehicles were running with absolute reliability, our drivers and co-drivers delivered a close competition and the service crew did a perfect job. Long stages, dust and heat put the entire team to a tough test. There’s no better way to prepare. My thanks also go to the organisers and the hosts who created a competition that was well-organised and marked by a high sporting level. Volkswagen is perfectly prepared to tackle the ‘title defence project’ at the Dakar Rally in January 2010.”

#100 – Giniel de Villiers (ZA), 3rd place overall

“We had a good rally week. For Dirk and me, it was particularly important to get used to working in the cockpit after such a long break – the ‘Dakar’ in January was our last competition. At the beginning we had a bit of a problem getting back into the swing of things, but during the second half of the rally we found the right pace. I’m very optimistic as far as the ‘Dakar’ is concerned, we’re well prepared. I enjoyed the Silk Way Rally, it was well organised and a real change.”

#100 – Dirk von Zitzewitz (D), co-driver, 3rd place overall

“The rally was a great experience and a very good test for the whole team. I’m very confident for the ‘Dakar’. I really respect the organisers; they did a good job with this rally that was a nice as well as a difficult event. We received a very warm welcome in Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and I would be happy if this rally were staged again next year.”

#101 – Carlos Sainz (E), 1st place overall

“My assessment of this rally is completely positive. Our car was running perfectly, the whole squad did an outstanding job, and it was also a long and tough event. The pace was very high throughout and the duel with Nasser and Timo was really good fun. It’s a shame that they were unlucky in the end and had to retire; they would have deserved victory as well. Our prospects of again competing for victory at the Dakar Rally in January are good.”

#101 – Lucas Cruz (E), co-driver, 1st place overall

“The navigators had a difficult job at the Silk Way Rally: Unlike at the ‘Dakar’ where the motorcycles start in front of us, we often had no orientation at all as the first vehicle out on the course. What’s more, the pace was very high and there was very little time to make decisions on the special stages with the many small branch-offs. Of course I’m happy about our victory, but the fact that the whole squad was able to get attuned to the ‘Dakar’ in an optimal manner is a lot more important.”

Mark Miller

#103 – Mark Miller (USA), 2nd place overall

“The rally really helped us to prepare for the ‘Dakar’. Ralph and I learned a lot about good teamwork in difficult situations. On three or four days, a lot more would probably have been possible for us, we’ll reflect on that again afterwards. In addition, for me as an American, it was a very special experience being able to explore these countries that were a taboo just a few years ago.”

#103 – Ralph Pitchford (ZA), co-driver, 3rd place overall

“Driving the Silk Way Rally was absolutely the right thing to do. There’s no better way to prepare for the ‘Dakar’ than in a competition in unknown territory. We can definitely be pleased with our result. Mark did a very good job of driving; the navigation problems were a bit frustrating at times. Nevertheless, ‘well done’ to the organisers; it was a very good rally.”

#104 – Nasser Al-Attiyah (Q), retired

“Of course we’re disappointed about retiring so close to the finish, but these things can happen in rally racing. I was impressed with how positively the squad received us afterwards. I really feel at home with Volkswagen, Timo and I grew together as a team. That was our major goal and we achieved it. We’re ready for the ‘Dakar.’”

#104 – Timo Gottschalk (D), retired

“We fought a great duel with Carlos and Lucas and led the rally for a long time. I feel particularly sorry for the team, which did a great job day by day, that we didn’t quite make it in the end. But we proved that we’re serious contenders. Our time will come.”

Provisional final standings Silk Way Rally

Pos., Team, Vehicle, Total time

1 Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E), Volkswagen Race Touareg 2, 24h 12m 21s

2 Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA), Volkswagen Race Touareg 2, +21 m 52s

3 Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA/D), Volkswagen Race Touareg 2, +28 m 09s

4 Ruslan Misikov/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS/RUS), Nissan, +4h 44m 04s

5 Ilya Kuznetsov/ Andrey Neshin (RUS/RUS), Mitsubishi, +5h 23m 30s

6 Maris Saukans/Didzis Zarnis (LV/LV), OSC, +6h 06m 56s

7 Alexey Berkut/Konstantin Meshcheryakov (RUS/RUS), Mitsubishi, +6h 12m 25s

8 Benediktas Vanagas/Saulius Jurgelenas (LT/LT), OSC, +6h 26m 11s

9 Raz Heymann/Hillel Segal (ISR/ISR), Mitsubishi, +8h 17m3 5s

10 Bodgan Novytskyi/Iurii Kondratiiev (UKR/UKR), Mitsubishi, +10h 20m 01s

Links:    Volkswagen Motorsport –    Silk Way Rally –     YouTube Videos

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Volkswagen Motorsport Newsletter 03/2009    19.04.2009

Volkswagen at the DTM presentation in Düsseldorf
Dakar” winners thrill motorsport fans lining the “Kö”

Dirk von Zitzewitz in 2009 Dakar Touareg2

A boulevard in Düsseldorf instead of sand dunes in South America: In January, the Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 won the Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile, this weekend it thrilled the fans lining the famous “Königsallee” glamour street. “Dakar” winner Dirk von Zitzewitz drove the 280-hp TDI diesel prototype during the DTM presentation on the blocked off “race track” through downtown Düsseldorf. On Sunday, the Wolfsburg squad also presented itself to a record audience of 210,000 spectators with a vehicle of the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup as well as a Dallara F308 Volkswagen of Team Kolles & Heinz Union from the Formula 3 Euro Series which Volkswagen contests with seven drivers. Both championships are held as partner series of the DTM, which will celebrate its season opener at Hockenheim from May 15 to 17.

Dakar Rally – two weeks after the event

Giniel de Villiers (ZA) and Dirk von Zitzewitz (D) during 2009 Dakar

Wolfsburg (30 January 2009). The first victory of a diesel-powered prototype at the Dakar Rally two weeks ago marked a two-fold triumph for Volkswagen. Giniel de Villiers (ZA) and Dirk von Zitzewitz (D) won the debut event of the off-road classic in South America ahead of their team-mates Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA). A sixth-place finish was achieved by the Germans Dieter Depping/Timo Gottschalk in a further Volkswagen Race Touareg. The toughest of all rallies caused a sensation around the world. From its adventurous aspect to spectator response, here are some facts and figures on the 2009 “Dakar”.

Did you know that …

… the Dakar Rally was truly a resounding spectator success? Over 500,000 fans flocked just to the ceremonial start in Buenos Aires. Overall, the number of fans who accompanied the “Dakar” along the rally routes is estimated to amount to more than two million.

… the number of TV viewers tuning into the event was a success for the Dakar Rally as well? The fascinating pictures of the first South American “Dakar” were aired in 189 countries. The European sports channel “Eurosport” broadcast 48 hours of Dakar Rally coverage, reaching 33 million spectators. German TV stations aired more than ten hours of “Dakar” pictures, watched by 140 million viewers. 80 million people tuned into “Dakar” coverage just on RTL.

… the data of the engineers for Carlos Sainz revealed an average accelerator pedal position of 81 per cent? His longest stretch without “lifting”: 9.91 kilometres.

… the first victory of a diesel-powered prototype at the Dakar Rally clinched by the Race Touareg also marked Volkswagen’s tenth outright exploit in cross-country rally racing since 2004?

… 89 out of 184 possible stage victories since the Race Touareg program was launched in 2004 went to Wolfsburg?

… the highest elevation of the Dakar Rally was reached on the eleventh leg from Copiapó to Fiambalá? While crossing the San Franzisco pass, the contenders ascended to a height of 4,726 metres.

… the total time set by Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz at the “Dakar” – 48h10m57s – could have even been a few seconds better? On the tenth special stage, a loop around the Chilenean desert town of Copiapó, an armadillo crossed their path. More than likely, the mammal was more shocked about the encounter than the two subsequent “Dakar” winners.

… the competitive balance in the Volkswagen factory was particularly high in 2009? 24 out of 39 possible top-three positions on the individual stages were scored by Volkswagen. On average, 4m27.30s separated the best and the second-best contenders from Wolfsburg on the special stages. The smallest gap: 20 seconds – between de Villiers/von Zitzewitz und Miller/Pitchford on leg six.

…the average driving time of Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz on the special stages was 3h42m38s? Added to this were the liaison stages before and after the specials. For comparison: The contender who reached the finish after the longest driving time spent 11h52m43s hours in the car every day – also plus the liaison legs.

… Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz, Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford and Dieter Depping/Timo Gottschalk completed 4,330 timed kilometres on the 13 classified special stages? This equates to about 50 percent of the total distance of these 13 legs.

… “Dakar” winner Dirk von Zitzewitz used eight different colours to mark his roadboak and spent an average of three hours preparing it?

… Dirk von Zitzewitz and Giniel de Villiers can also communicate in German in the cockpit if necessary? Giniel de Villiers’ mother tongue is Afrikaans, which has its origins in the Dutch language. Phonetically, “left” and “right” are identical to German.

… the communication inside the cockpit between the two “Dakar” winners on one occasion was not enough to achieve the purpose? On the extremely rough and crucial twelfth leg Dirk von Zitzewitz pointed the way to his driver by running in front of the car through a field of scree – one of the keys to their triumph.