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 | SCORE 2012: Armin Schwarz - "Our first race is in November at the Baja 1000".
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During the World Premiere of the all new All German Motorsports (AGM) BMW X6 Jimco Truck in Leipzig/Germany we had the opportunity to talk with Armin Schwarz. winner of the SCORE Baja 1000 and driver of the new Trophy Truck.
MR: "Armin, the time has now come for the AGM-Jimco X6 SCORE Trophy Truck to be unleashed. How exciting is that?"
Armin Schwarz: "Unbelievably exciting. But I´m even more looking forward to testing the vehicle. The truck runs very quietly, just like the WRC cars I used to drive. We did a great deal of work on the geometry and on the pivot points of all axles.
It seems almost like a hybrid between a buggy and trophy truck. It´s very agile and manageable, but still it demonstrates excellent resilience in tough terrain – and that´s exactly what a SCORE Trophy Truck should have."
MR: "How long did it take from the first drawings to the premiere of the Trophy Truck?"
Armin Schwarz: "Martin and I drew up the first plans back in mid-2009 when we were both feeling frustrated at having to start behind all the SCORE Trophy Trucks.
In June 2010 the first drawings were completed. We then developed the first components. But only when we sold our very successful Class One Buggy to Australia after clinching overall victory at the 2010 Baja 250 and a superb racing season could we concentrate totally on our Trophy Truck project. That was in November 2010."
MR: "When can we see the Trophy Truck in action for the first time?"
Armin Schwarz: "Our first race is in November this year at the Baja 1000. But, we don´t have any race strategy whatsoever. For us it´ll be more a major test outing, perhaps the biggest test that you can possibly put a race car through. Martin, our team and I all think that we can conduct test kilometres in a competition environment. Our partners support us wholeheartedly and they know that we´ll be going for victory in 2012."
MR: "What will now become of the AGM Buggy with which you were so successful in the US SCORE Championship to now? And how does your crew line-up look for 2012?
Armin Schwarz: "Martin sold the Buggy to a successful racer from the Australian Offroad Championship who is very happy with the car. For 2012 we are obviously planning some important steps in further developing the truck. And we will also work on the reliability because that´s the most crucial factor if you want to win. And we have many other innovative ideas in mind, but we won´t share these ideas for the time being.
Moreover, AGM still has another Class One Buggy with which Armin Kremer was so successful in the last years. I don´t want to say too much about that either – but I will say this: Armin is in the AGM team and he´ll be staying there. We have a great time together and Armin is a fighter. He complements our team very well."
MR: "What are your goals for the 2012 season?"
Armin Schwarz: "We aim to finish all races and win as many as possible. Martin, the team and I have one very clear goal and that is to win the Baja 1000, regardless of whether it´s in 2012 or 2013. The main thing is to win this awesome race!"
"In all the years that Sal Fish has run the SCORE Organisation, and all his helpers have found unbelievably beautiful and tough tracks, never before has a non-North American won. Only in 2010 did a Mexican, let´s say an ´almost´ North American, manage this feat – and that was our friend from the Vildosola team. We want to be the first Europeans to do this and that is our aim. "
"I want to express my thanks to my friend who has virtually ´carried´ me after my active WRC time: Wilfried Eibach, whose company celebrated its 60th anniversary a fortnight ago. Dear Wilfried, you really sorted out a wonderful "post-WRC" activity for me. And man, is it fun. There are very few of these types - people like Wilfried Eibach, Sal Fish, Yves Morizot and of course my friend and team mate Martin Christensen. To you all, and my family of course, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and patience."
2011/10/19 | 15:11 CET | ARTICLE: MR/SY/WEDDIGE
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