Dakar - Volkswagen takes third
Jan-16 2005 / 16:23 EST

A quarter of a century after becoming the first German manufacturer to win the Dakar Rally, Volkswagen today (Sunday) wrote a further page in the history of the world’s toughest rally when one of its Race-Touaregs claimed the event’s first podium finish by a diesel-powered car.

German driver Jutta Kleinschmidt and her Italian co-driver Fabrizia Pons crossed the finish line in the Senegalese capital in third place overall after 9000km of African desert hardship. A sister Race-Touareg driven by Bruno Saby took fifth place, and a third Volkswagen, driven by American Robby Gordon, was 12th.

Kleinschmidt was delighted with her result: ‘It’s a very special podium place for me,’ said Jutta. ‘I think that Volkswagen really deserved this success; we made a good impression and had good results from the beginning. First Robby led, then Bruno, then Fabrizia and I finished on the podium. A podium finish was our goal and it’s absolutely fantastic that it all worked out.’

Kleinschmidt’s progress to the podium was the result of hard work and some strong stage performances. She moved into third on January 5 and consolidated her position with a stage victory on the 11th of the 16 legs and two further top-three stage finishes. Gordon was the sensation of the early legs, setting fastest time on the first and fourth stages before losing several hours through a roll. His fight back from 101st place to 12th was one of the highlights of the 2005 Dakar.

Frenchman Saby also took his turn at the head of the field, taking over the lead on the sixth stage from Smara to Zouerat in Mauritania before suffering technical problems the next day after a hard landing from a dune jump. He and his co-driver Michel Perin fought hard to regain the top five. Today they claimed the honour of victory on the final stage, taking Volkswagen’s fourth stage win.

‘The Dakar Rally was a huge success for Volkswagen,’ said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. ‘All team members worked excellently and we made a huge step forward on the engineering side. We will work very hard over the next 11 months to make the next step…’

Interview with Jutta Kleinschmidt

In 1999 you were third at the Dakar Rally; in 2001 you celebrated victory, in 2002 runner-up. What do feel about your fourth podium result?

"It’s a very special podium place for me. Because when we contested the ‘Dakar’ for the first time in 2003 with Volkswagen, I knew that we would have to survive a barren spell at first until the team and the car are up to scratch. With our podium finish we have shown that we pose a threat.”

What was the most heart-stopping moment for you during the 2005 ‘Dakar’?

"During a rally there are moments every day when the adrenalin kicks in. My heart definitely skipped a beat on the 520 kilometre long 14th stage. We were happy to have mastered a tricky water crossing and have an open road ahead. Then suddenly it went ‘puff’ – and the steering was bust. At first I thought that we could keep going, as the steering was just heavy. Then a short while later nothing worked. I’d almost given up hope of keeping my third place and was waiting for the Race-Truck. When my team mate Robby Gordon stopped I wasn’t sure whether we could swap the steering or not. We thought it would take for ever. Thereafter I was happy that everything had worked out so quickly. The stage to Tichit was also an incredible day. There we had to stretch the diesel to the absolute limit; we took the finish with only three litres in the tank.”

How much of an influence does your co-driver Fabrizia Pons have on the success?

"We are a team – just like the mechanics. You can’t apportion the success to anyone in particular. You can’t dissect team work, everything has to work. For example, without Robby Gordon and Dirk von Zitzewitz we would have had no chance of taking third position – as a matter of principle it’s the same for every team member.”

Apropos team – how has the Volkswagen team developed?

"The team really has developed well. They were much more professional than last year and we will certainly learn much more for the forthcoming year and improve many things”

How did the teamwork with your colleagues Bruno Saby, Robby Gordon and Juha Kankkunen turn out?

"It worked very well with all of them. But our characters are nevertheless different. Juha Kankkunen is quite simply cool and relaxed. Robby Gordon had a great start to the rally; he fulfilled his role in at the end and saved our third place. I’ve known Bruno Saby a long time now and get on well with him. All three worked brilliantly – it was really fantastic.”

Is third place just reward for the hard work invested during the whole year?

"Yes, I think that we really deserve this success. We made a good impression and had good results from the very beginning. First of all Robby Gordon led, then Bruno Saby. Then Fabrizia and I finished on the podium. A podium finish was our goal and it’s absolutely fantastic that it all worked out – for Fabrizia and I, for the entire team and for Volkswagen.”

At what point did you believe you could finish on the podium?

"You begin to believe in it when you realise that it isn’t unrealistic. The Race-Touareg is well suited for gruelling rallies; we have only had small problems. Although Mitsubishi is superior on the sandy stages, we showed that we are right there on the other days.”

You held third place constantly since 5th January and then before the end you were faced with the prospect of losing it. Did the rally appear to be longer because of that?

"No because I never thought about it. I just did my best every day. I know that the rally is full of surprises all the way to the chequered flag.”

Did the sandstorms prove to be nerve-racking?

"The weather was really awkward. This rally is normally very picturesque. However we couldn’t enjoy the breathtaking views this time, because in these bleak weather conditions the landscape appears rather dull.”

The Volkswagen TDI engine has proved to be very competitive during the ‘Dakar’. As physicist, what’s your opinion?

"Up till now only petrol engine cars have won, our podium place marks the best ever result for a diesel engine. We left a lot of petrol cars in our wake. It is a fantastic performance – and it shows that TDI technology is good, successful and extremely reliable.”

There was a strong field in the ‘2005 Dakar’, but also a very high retirement rate early on. Was this year’s rally really so hard, or has the competition become unmerciful?

"With such a strong starting line up the competition is so tough that everybody drives on the limit. A lot of cars rolled, everybody goes to the limit and sometimes beyond.”

What would you like for the next ‘Dakar’?

"For Volkswagen, I hope that we have a top team again that can fight for overall victory and perhaps even win from the front. It would obviously be great if I was the one who is leading at the end. However, if I was behind I would obviously try to help my team colleagues at the front, because at the end of the day it’s all about success for Volkswagen. From the organisers I would expect a route with more dunes and less camel grass. Also it would be good to have less off-road sections miles away from civilisation, because the hard ridges and potholes are very dangerous. The number of accidents would definitely sink as a result.”

What would you improve on your Race-Touareg?

"The Race-Touareg is already very good. But we could improve a few things on the suspension, particularly where camel grass is concerned. Apart from that I’d like better visibility from the cockpit and slightly better engine characteristic particularly in low revs to help when driving in sand.”

After a 17 day desert rally – what did you miss the most?

"A relaxing bath, a comfortable bed and a life free of dust.”

What was the best moment of the rally?

"When we arrived at Lac Rose in Dakar and knew that absolutely nothing could take third place from us.”