The Multivan 4MOTION at the Dakar Rally

The Multivan 4MOTION at the Dakar Rally
Hanover, 5 January 2007. Three Multivans are supporting the world's toughest desert rally. They are assisting the racing Touaregs of the Volkswagen Motor Sport team as service vehicles. They form the backbone of the backup team for the exhausting tour.

The Multivan has proved its worth, this being the third time it has been used at the Dakar Rally. "We took our first Multivans to the tour two years ago. They never got stuck, never caused any problems and were an absolute hit for us. There's just so much room in a Multivan," says Chris Nissen, explaining the decision to take three Multivans as service vehicles this year.

If you look inside the service buses, you'll see what he means. There's not just room for tools and spares, but also plenty of space for a crew of up to four. Each of them has his own bucket seat, well protected with harness safety belts. A sturdy cage protects the occupants if the vehicle rolls over.

This is a stipulation for the Dakar Rally, and with good reason: the support vehicle crew driving against the clock and at least a tenth of the 9000-kilometre race passes through difficult terrain. This means excellent off-road performance is a must.

The Dakar Bus is based on a 4MOTION with a five-cylinder TDI engine and an output of 128 kW (174 PS). The chassis is higher than on a standard vehicle, it has a shorter transmission ratio and complete under ride protection. All these modifications can be ordered from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and are carried out by our own special equipment business unit.

The mechanics are kept busy night and day during the whole race. In the mornings they prepare the Touaregs for racing, then take down tent and load it up. Then they hurry to the service point or the next drivers' camp. Ideally, the next camp should be set up before the race cars arrive. Even if they don't need repairs, the Touaregs are serviced according to a strict checklist. And if major work is required, then it can be a very long night.

The service Multivans have crews of three or four. While the driver and navigator have to stay awake, the rest of the crew can relax so that they are ready for the next change of driver. And that's why the Multivan is such a hit with the mechanics, because it's almost cosy in the back. The MPVs offer enough space to sleep in the back, and are big enough to live in for the duration of the race. Two of the buses are old stagers, and will be taking part for the third time in the world's toughest rally