Volkswagen experiences tremendous “Sertões” kick-off in Brazil
June 24, 2009 by
Fish
Filed under
Press Releases
Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz Senra
Wolfsburg (23 June 2009). A spectacular first step on the way to the next goal: “Dakar” winner Volkswagen started to the Rallye dos Sertões with a show stage.
The cross-country rally in Brazil serves as the first competitive preparation for the 2010 Dakar Rally at which Volkswagen wants to successfully defend the title clinched in January 2009. The factory pairings Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz Senra (E/E) in position two, Maurício Neves/Eduardo Bampi (BR/BR) in fourth as well as Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D) in tenth place were enthusiastically cheered in Goiânia by over 25,000 fans. The three diesel-powered Race Touareg vehicles from Wolfsburg were the stars of the evening. ”The spectators gave the team a warm welcome,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “This was a tremendous kick-off before the rally really starts on Wednesday.” On 24 June the leg from Goiânia to Santa Helena will be the rally’s first, 327.5-kilometre special stage.
