Those dismissing the Range Rover Evoque as a posh, pavement-minded SUV take notice! The Evoque will be competing in the 2013 Dakar Rally, a punishing off-road endurance race which spans three countries and over 5,000 miles of rough, South American terrain.
Is the Evoque ready for South America? The Excite Rally Raid Team is counting on it. The Excite Rally Raid Team is Britain’s first professional team to run the Dakar and they will be entering three specially commissioned Range Rove Evoque vehicles designed by RaBe Race Cars. The trucks use an Evoque chassis, providing the Dakar Rovers a strong resemblance to the production Range Rover models. Power train and suspension components borrowed from performance manufacturers include:
Several prototypes have been tested under rally conditions and fared well, boasting a 100-percent reliability rate. Mike Jones of RaBe Race Cars feels confident about the product and its future success in Dakar:
“RaBe Race Cars has years of off-road motorsport experience at every level, from club to International works teams. In fact we have a family motorsport tree that is celebrating its 100th anniversary of continuous motorsport involvement in 2012. The last 15 years have been devoted to Desert racing and achieving not just a finish but top honours at Dakar.”
Originally hosted in the rugged terrain between Paris and Dakar, Senegal, the 34-year old Dakar Rally has long challenged some of the most skilled and daring off-race teams in the world. This year, professional and amateur competitors alike will begin their journey in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, and head westward through Copiapo, Chile. From Chile, drivers head north to their final destination, Lima, Peru.
For more information visit www.Dakar.com
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