Volkswagen develops Touareg TDI for famous Baja 1000

Wolfsburg (31 October 2007). In the 2008 motorsport season, Volkswagen of America, Inc.
will start contesting the popular U.S. off-road racing series SCORE with a Touareg TDI.
The Touareg TDI will be developed specifically for the extremely tough demands of the
Mexican peninsula Baja California, which, since 1967, has been the annual venue of the
most famous event of this kind – the Baja 1000. The Volkswagen prototype will be
prepared for the “SCORE Trophy Truck Open Production – Unlimited Class”.
“Volkswagen’s history in off-road racing dates back to the first Baja 1000 in 1967,”
stressed Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “In the world famous Dakar Rally,
which at a length of 9,000 kilometres over 15 legs is the most demanding offroad
competition of all, as well as in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb Race and in the Baja 500 in June
2007 Volkswagen achieved remarkable results. These experiences, which we gained with
innovative diesel engines in the various offroad vehicles, are helping us to build a Touareg
TDI prototype that will master the very special challenge of a Baja and thrill the
enthusiastic American audience.”
Sal Fish, President and CEO of SCORE International, who recently paid a visit to
Volkswagen Motorsport in Germany, welcomes the commitment: “Over the past 40 years,
Volkswagen’s vehicles and technology had a significant impact on how the SCORE Baja
events basically developed. We look forward to the future of this partnership and also to
clean diesel technology making its way into our sport.” With 13 victories since 1967,
Volkswagen has shaped the Baja 1000 as one of the leading engine manufacturers,
particularly in the first two decades. To this day, several classes of the non-stop race
across the Baja California peninsula are specifically reserved for Volkswagen models as
well as for vehicles with Volkswagen components.
The driver line-up for the Touareg TDI prototype that is supposed to make its début at the
end of 2008 has been determined already: Mark Miller from Arizona, Volkswagen factory
driver since 2005, who, in fourth place overall finished the Dakar Rally in January 2007 as
the best of the factory drivers, is part of this motorsport programme, as is his compatriot
Ryan Arciero. In addition, Miller at the wheel of a Volkswagen Race Touareg was the best
driver of a diesel-powered vehicle at the Baja 500 in June. Arciero in a production-derived
Touareg V10 TDI in the “Alternative Fuel Diesel Truck High-Performance Showroom Stock
division” set a new record in the world famous Pikes Peak Hillclimb Race in July.
Further information: Uwe Baldes, mobile +49 160 90883158, uwe.baldes@volkswagen-motorsport.com
Text, photographs and audios to download: www.volkswagen-motorsport.info