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 | SA-Dakar 2011: Cooper Tire expands South America-Dakar assault for 2011.
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Cooper Tire will back an expanded team in the 2011 South America Dakar as it aims to go one better than its debut attempt in the 2010 event. The Toyota Cooper Tire outfit finished second in the T2 Diesel class and 17th overall this January, but veteran Dakar pilot, Xavier Foj, is aiming to take the class victory in 2011.
Spaniard Foj and his co-driver, Pablo Jaton, will once again compete for the team in a Toyota Land Cruiser KXR and they will be joined by a second duo - Spanish TV personality Jesus Calleja and co-driver, Ignacio Santamaria.
Calleja, who presents a popular adventure travel programme on Spanish TV, will take the wheel of a Toyota Hilux in his debut on the Dakar, acknowledged as the world’s toughest rally.
Foj, who will start his 22nd Dakar when the event kicks off on January 1, 2011, said: "Last year, our Cooper tyres dealt with everything we faced without a problem. In 2011, we will have a teammate racing with us. This will prove very valuable if either of our cars run into problems, as the second car will be able to help. Racing on our own was one of the hardest things in last year’s event."
Foj’s Land Cruiser KXR and Calleja’s Hilux will be fitted with Cooper’s Discoverer STT. The tyre was designed for adventurous pursuits increasing traction, durability and puncture resistance. It has a three-ply Armor-Tek3 body, while the non-directional tread elements are strategically siped for better handling in wet weather.
2010/12/02 | 14:05 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/COOPER
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