Is there a new vehicle for Dakar 2011?

After the 2010 Dakar, it was reported that Robby said he was going to build a new vehicle with 4x4. since Hummer is becoming defunct, it would seem that he knew this and had another vehicle in mind. Does anyone know what this new vehicle is? Is he still on for 2011?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Turtle7 on November 27, 2010 at 9:10am

Sounds like DAKAR is becoming an Energy Drink battle like the early days of NASCAR with the beers.

Permalink Reply by Tooltime on November 28, 2010 at 3:44pm

Remember with 2x, we get more wheel travel, larger tires and potentially more hp!

Permalink Reply by John Nelson on November 29, 2010 at 4:40am

A simple fact, ALL of the Dakar winners for the last 20+ years were 4x4. there is a balance you must find between top speed and terrain control. Robby has always been the fastest top speed but the 4 x 4 works better on corners and soft terrain, thus improving speed in the corners and tight areas.

Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on November 29, 2010 at 11:38am

It's alway's a challenge for 'privateer's' to race 'factory' teams.In Robby's case,he got to drive a factory VW.He knows there stenght's and weakness's,I don't.So Robby's brings a privateer A team to DAKAR, I'm good with that.

Permalink Reply by John Nelson on November 29, 2010 at 12:01pm

I dont believe any private teams have won DAKAR for a long time (Schlesser?). When I crewed in 1986 for Renault/Jeep sport, we were a factory team, but Porsche were the big dogs with the 959s, again all wheel drive. Having driven both 2x and 4x, the cornering with 4x4 is hugely better with minimal understeer, but it is of course heavier (which helps steering) but hurts top speed where RG excels with 2wd by getting up on top of the terrain and the front end takes the bumps much better. Just have to find a balance that works best, but my own opinion is that 4x4 has about a 10% advantage overall on a Dakar/Raid type course. RG has to go like a Bat of H..l on the fast smooth stuff to make up for it. In the 80s, Savage built a Nissan pick up for class 4 which ran with the fastest buggies and beat all the trucks. Jack Johnson drove it and it could have gone faster with more tuning, but the US Iron guys got the fur'en trucks kicked out of class 4 soon afterwards.

Permalink Reply by TOG on November 29, 2010 at 12:51pm

stage wins are still great, & RG has those with his own team.

Permalink Reply by R. ALDRIDGE on November 29, 2010 at 12:56pm

I noticed on the entry Robby is 303. Does that mean he starts 4th? I thought he finished about 8th and would start there (number 307)? Did some top finishers drop out or am I thinking wrong on the rules?

Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on November 29, 2010 at 1:05pm

Isn't there some crazy seating/number process that previous results only vaguely matter?!

Permalink Reply by TOG on November 29, 2010 at 1:10pm

I was also surprised to see RG have #303.

Permalink Reply by David Neth on November 30, 2010 at 1:53am

Except for Schlesser. And the fastest top speed thing isn't right either.

Permalink Reply by R. ALDRIDGE on November 29, 2010 at 1:36am

weasels!

Permalink Reply by Anthony Thomas on December 4, 2010 at 12:02am

The Schlesser Buggies were built for the flat floor deserts experienced in Africa, in other words high speed running. This is where the Hummer excels as well as over the dunes. I wouldn't worry about 2WD vs 4WD for Europeans with their generally small displacement engines most likely need AWD to help them in deep sand and over the dunes.

Anyway I'm looking forward to the race 3rd time's the charm they always say.