Five days, ten disciplines, one goal – the Volkswagen Formula 3 and Scirocco R Cup drivers prepared themselves for the 2010 motorsport season during an extensive fitness camp in Oberjoch.
The vigorous training programme was mainly focused on improving physical fitness with respect to stamina, strength and coordination. The events on the fitness agenda resembled a multi-discipline competition of the drivers against themselves: cross-country skiing, a mountain run, power training, spinning, indoor football and a biathlon on the one hand and yoga as a physical-mental training activity and a slalom competition in the driving safety centre on the other addressed several of the racers’ senses. In addition, the young drivers received expert advice in areas like regeneration and proper nutrition. (continue reading…)
Last year, Giniel de Villiers was the first African to win the Dakar Rally which is considered the toughest motorsport event of the world. The victory marked the first time for a driver of a Race Touareg to stand all the way at the top of the podium. For the 37-year-old professional racer it was the sixth running in a Dakar Rally event. In 2006 he had already finished as the runner-up on his native continent Africa. (continue reading…)
Macau Grand Prix winner Edoardo Mortara (Italy), last year’s runner-up in the ATS Formula 3 Cup Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) and the 2009 champion of the ADAC Formula Masters Daniel Abt (Germany) are heading the squad of the Wolfsburg-based automobile manufacturer who will again have commitments in the three most prestigious European Formula 3 series: the Formula 3 Euro Series, the ATS Formula 3 Cup and the British Formula 3 Championship. Volkswagen will supply a total of seven teams with two-litre four-cylinder engines delivering an approximate power output of 210 hp. (continue reading…)
Click image for galleryAfter three stages, it is turning out to be a Volkswagen vs. BMW X-Raid race. We know this is way early but these guys have been trading times and places over the past 9 hours. Team X-raid GmbH’s Stephane Peterhansel had a record breaking run to win the stage and take the overall by 04:33min.
Last years champion, Giniel de Villiers did not have a good day. The #300 Race Touareg hit a deep hole and managed to flip. They eventually were uprighted with the help of a Mitsubishi. Later they were to hit a rock damaged the underside and had to wait for the truck to tow them in. (continue reading…)
After en epic opening stage to the 2010 Dakar Rally, Volkswagen has all 5 Race Touareg’s in the Top 10. Earlier rains had the organizers move the start which in turn reduced the overall stage from 251 to 199 kilometers. Traditional rally drivers were at home on this first leg as the twisty and narrow roads appeared.
(in order) Nasser Al-Attiyah, Ralph Pitchford, Mark Miller, LucasCruz, Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers and Kris Nissen
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- #303 Sainz/Cruz in – 2nd
- #306 Al-attiyah/Gottschalk – 4th
- #300 De villiers/ Von zitzewitz – 5th
- #305 Miller/Pitchford – 8th
- #312 Neves/Maestrelli – 10th
2010 Dakar Rally, ceremonial start
Volkswagen started to the Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile in front of an inspiring audience.
More than 300,000 fans celebrated the title defenders Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA/D) and their Volkswagen team-mates Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E), Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA), Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D) and Maurício Neves/Clécio Maestrelli (BR/BR) in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. After the requisite drive across the starting ramp, the route took the five Race Touareg vehicles powered by TDI diesel engines to Colón where the first special stage in open terrain will start on Saturday. (continue reading…)
Hear from Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers, Kris-Nissen, Lucas-Cruz, Mark-Miller, Nasser-Al-Attiyah and Ralph-Pitchford on the eve of the 2010 Dakar Rally.
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The first of many uploads to our 2010 Dakar Rally featuring nothing but Volkswagen Motorsport. Look for Mark Miller, Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers, Mauricio Neves and Nasser Al-Attiyah along with their Race Touareg 2’s to tear up the competition in 2010!
(continue reading…)
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