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 | SA-Dakar 2011: New Volkswagen Amarok to start in T2 production-class.
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After the Porsche Cayenne of the Polish "Caroline" Team, another car in the Production Class T2 will enrich the Rallyraid-Sport in 2011: The new Volkswagen Pickup Amarok. But not as a factory vehicle: Under the name "Autovia (Highway) Dakar Team" the Argentinian Walter Dagostini and Juan "Pepe" Turra will participate in the 2011 South America Dakar.
"The preparations are already underway for 70 days, the only problem was the lack of homologation from the FIA" Dagostini reported. Although the current FIA-datas don´t confirm the homologation yet, the Argentinian team said, the FIA-homologation has been confirmed two weeks ago.
For Volkswagen this would be a good deal, even if the team will finish the official engagement after the 2011 Dakar Rally - because the number of homologated pickups is clear. Only the Nissan Navara Double Cab D22 and D40 (until 2016) and Isuzu D-Max 2.9 to 3.5 liters (2016) are approved as a pickup for T2 Production Class.
"We had the idea after the premiere of the Amarok this year," says Walter Dagostini. "The vehicle was in Barattero in Cordoba (Argentina's second largest city) set up. In the beginning we start with a single vehicle to gather experience, then we may want to offer customers vehicles."
The new Rally-Amarok is not a utopia, a rally start proves in a few days. "For a first test, we will participate in a Rally of the Argentinian Cross Country series this week near the City Carlos Paz, then we will know more" Dagostini told.
2010/10/15 | 18:56 CET | EDITOR: MR/HS/RRMG/RALLYGLOBAL/DIARIOC
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