“Dakar” winner Volkswagen to compete in rally debut in the Orient

The "Dakar” winner will compete in the Orient: Volkswagen will take part in the inaugural Silk Way Rally through Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The event organised by "Dakar” organiser A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation) along the "Silk Road”, the historic trade route between Europe and Asia, will start in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, and will end in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, on 13 September.

"This new rally in the Orient is practically a small ‘Dakar’ across a distance of some 4,500 kilometres and a new challenge for us where we want to compete for victory,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. "We’re expecting a varied terrain that definitely reflects the demands of the ‘Dakar’. In addition, the worldwide marketing effort and professional organisation by the A.S.O. stands for optimum presentation of the event and its participants.”

In January, Volkswagen had clinched a one-two victory at the Dakar Rally, staged in South America for the first time, with Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA/D) and Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA) as the first automobile manufacturer to win this classic rally raid with diesel power. The 2010 Dakar Rally will again be staged in Argentina and Chile, from 02 to 17 January.