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Central Europe Rally 2008 - Volkswagen faces new challenge in
cross-country rally sport
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Wolfsburg (11 April 2007). The Central Europe Rally through Hungary
and Romania from 20 to 26 April marks the beginning of a new era for
cross-country rally racing. Volkswagen Motorsport accepts this
challenge and tackles a new rally organised by the A.S.O. – the
organiser of the "Dakar” – besides the desert classic with four
factory-fielded Race Touareg vehicles: Carlos Sainz/Michel Périn
(E/F), Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (RSA/D), Mark
Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/RSA) and Dieter Depping/Timo Gottschalk
(D/D) will contest the Central Europe Rally that starts in Budapest
and ends at Lake Balaton. The competition is fierce: like at the Dakar
Rally, in Hungary and Romania the Mitsubishi and X-Raid-BMW teams as
well as Robby Gordon rank among the closest rivals of the Volkswagen
drivers. In a fifth Race Touareg Carlos Sousa/Andy Schulz (P/D)
contest the event for the Lagos customer team.
"Competing in the Central Europe Rally means we’re venturing onto new
territory, both in a geographical and a sporting sense,” says
Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. "Exactly this is what
consistently makes cross-country rally sport a challenge we embrace.
In Hungary and Romania we’ll be running on off-road terrain that tends
to have the strongest resemblance to the starting legs of the ‘Dakar’
in previous years: with lots of dirt tracks and WRC-like routes. These
conditions should suit the Race Touareg and our drivers. We’re well
prepared for starting to a new era of the sport."
 Hungary
and Romania: two different rally worlds within one week
At its début round the Central Europe Rally features two different
types of terrain. Besides the predominantly bumpy dirt roads in
Hungary, the Romanian Gutai mountains put primarily wooded areas with
stony ground on the agenda. After starting in Hungary’s capital city
Budapest, the route leads to Baia Mare in Romania on the first day of
the competition. From there, it loops once around Baia Mare, where two
of the stages finish, back to Hungary – to Debrecen, Veszprem and to
Balatonfüred on Lake Balaton, where the rally ends. All in all, the
contenders have to complete 2,600 kilometres, 1,100 of which are
special stages, on the seven days of the
competition.
"On the one hand, the character of the special stages with their WRC-typical
tracks should not only suit the Race Touareg, but the drivers who have
experience with sprint rallies,” says Carlos Sainz, World Rally
Champion in 1990 and 1992. "On the other hand, this rally in
particular, which is new to all the teams, requires total
concentration, especially on the co-drivers’ part. When it comes to
navigating, there’s no risk of getting lost the way you can in the
open landscapes of Africa, but in view of the numerous branch-offs
mistakes can cost a lot of time.”
Local warm-up: three-day test with Carlos Sainz and Giniel de Villiers
The Volkswagen factory team prepared for the first cross-country
running in Eastern Europe as carefully as always. At the three-day
tests around Veszprem (Hungary) Carlos Sainz/Michel Périn as well as
Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz worked on the setup of the
Volkswagen Race Touareg vehicles. "After a four-month rally break it
was very helpful to do something like a warm-up again,” comments
Giniel de Villiers, who celebrated a history second place with
Volkswagen’s 280-hp TDI prototype at the 2007 Dakar Rally. "This way,
we were able to get a first impression of the routes of the Central
Europe Rally. A tough fight is in store for us, in which even small
time gaps can determine victory or defeat.”
Professional organisation: a new rally organised by the A.S.O.
The Central Europe Rally is a new cross-country rally organised by the
A.S.O. besides the legendary "Dakar”. The A.S.O. has made a name for
itself in organising large-scale sporting events such as the Dakar
Rally, the Tour de France in bicycle racing, and in track and field
competitions. "The Central Europe Rally provides a good opportunity to
prepare for the ‘Dakar’ next year and gives us the benefit of the same
level of professional organisation,” says Volkswagen factory driver
Mark Miller. "In addition, it is a new event on the schedule of
cross-country rally racing. As drivers, we are always highly
motivated, but at the premiere of a rally everyone wants to make a
mark. No doubt about it: I want to finish on the podium."
For his team-mate Dieter Depping, contesting the Central Europe Rally
marks the first competition at the wheel of a Volkswagen Race Touareg.
"Consequently, I’m looking forward to the rally with extremely eager
anticipation," says Depping, who – like Carlos Sainz – can draw on
experience in classic rally racing. "The entire Volkswagen squad is
committed to a team spirit. The key thing is that a Race Touareg wins.
Personally, I’d like to see where I stand compared to the top drivers.
The organiser’s idea of establishing a new rally, and perhaps even a
Dakar series with another rally in autumn, is really good.”
Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen: "We trust the
long-standing experience of the A.S.O. not only in terms of
organisation but with regard to safety and worldwide marketing. We’re
at the threshold of an important new beginning – a big chance for
cross-country rally racing – which has acquired worldwide popularity
as a result of the legendary ‘Dakar’.”
In addition to the Central Europe Rally and extensive testing,
Volkswagen Motorsport in preparation for the 2009 Dakar Rally in South
America plans to enter two Race Touareg vehicles in the Rallye dos
Sertões in Brazil from 18 to 28 June 2008.
2008 Central Europe Rally Route
Date Leg, Start – Finish Special Stage Liaison Total
19 Apr 2008 Budapest (H), Scrutineering
20 Apr 2008 1 Budapest (H) – Baia Mare (RO), 63 km, 468 km, 531 km
21 Apr 2008 2 Baia Mare (RO) – Baia Mare (RO), 152 km, 140 km, 292 km
22 Apr 2008 3 Baia Mare (RO) – Debrecen (H), 152 km, 285 km, 437 km
23 Apr 2008 4 Debrecen (H) – Veszprem (H), 150 km, 430 km, 580 km
24 Apr 2008 5 Veszprem (H) – Veszprem (H), 210 km, 107 km, 317 km
25 Apr 2008 6 Veszprem (H) – Veszprem (H), 210 km, 107 km, 317 km
26 Apr2008 7 Veszprem (H) – Balatonfüred (H), 155 km, 42 km, 197 km
Total 1,092 km, 1,579 km, 2,671 km
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