Wolfsburg (31 March 2006) The Rally of Tunisia kicks off Volkswagen’s preparation programme for the 2007 Dakar Rally. In the second round of the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup from 9 to 17 April Volkswagen works drivers Carlos Sainz and Giniel de Villiers will be driving two Race Touareg 2 cars. The driver pairings have been rearranged: The South African Giniel de Villiers, whose second-place finish in the Dakar Rally in January marked the best result thus far clinched by the Race Touareg in the marathon classic, will be running with the German Dirk von Zitzewitz at his side for the first time. The two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz, as well, has a new co-driver: Michel Périn, the winner of the 2005 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup.
Wolfsburg (31 March 2006) The Rally of Tunisia kicks off Volkswagen’s preparation programme for the 2007 Dakar Rally. In the second round of the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup from 9 to 17 April Volkswagen works drivers Carlos Sainz and Giniel de Villiers will be driving two Race Touareg 2 cars. The driver pairings have been rearranged: The South African Giniel de Villiers, whose second-place finish in the Dakar Rally in January marked the best result thus far clinched by the Race Touareg in the marathon classic, will be running with the German Dirk von Zitzewitz at his side for the first time. The two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz, as well, has a new co-driver: Michel Périn, the winner of the 2005 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup.

Jean-Claude Vaucard reinforces Volkswagen Motorsport’s tech team

“The Rally of Tunisia with soft sand and hard camel grass tracks gives us the opportunity to test the first evolutions of the Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 for the 2006 Dakar,” explains Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “Particularly on desert-typical ground we want to achieve further improvements. That is why we are going to combine the rally with several days of testing in Tunisia, during which we are going to try out several equipment versions and tools to assist the drivers in the sand.”

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AUBURN HILLS, MI - March 28, 2006: The robotic Volkswagen Touareg, nicknamed ‘Stanley’, that brought home the $2 million prize at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Grand Challenge in October, will be featured on NOVA’s The Great Robot Race, airing tonight on PBS, March 28, at 8 p.m. ET. Stanley defeated 22 other unmanned vehicles in a rigorous, 132-mile championship race over rough desert roads, mountain trails, dry lake beds and tunnels, using only onboard sensors and navigation equipment.

The NOVA program will provide an in-depth look at the DARPA Grand Challenge and the technological innovations of the race contenders. The DARPA Grand Challenge is an annual competition and a field test intended to accelerate research and development in autonomous ground vehicles. Stanley performed flawlessly over the 132-mile Nevada course and achieved victory after six hours 35 minutes. Nearly 200 vehicles from around the world originally entered the competition. A series of semifinal competitions narrowed the final field to 23, including Stanley.

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