"A RAID INTO THE EXTREME"

Dakar Rally 2006 will undoubtedly be a competition of
Man, Machine and Mega Bucks.

The Dakar Race is on. It's the kind of story Men's Journal loves. Fast cars in exotic barren places, racing 5600 miles in 16 days from Lisbon, Portugal to Dakar. Of the 725 vehicles convoyed up at the start, 485 are entered in the race. 230 are bikes, 180 are cars, 75 are trucks and the balance of the 204 vehicles are for assistance

The race for Dakar started well before the December 31st, 2005 kick-off stage. All Dakar entry positions sold out six months before the start. Racers are eager for the world's most epic and grueling race. For some, planning and preparation is considered an extreme logistical challenge in the most remote and undulating conditions, and has spanned almost three decades of tradition.

The participants come from all over the globe. These participants come for their shot to place their name in the record books as champion of this 5,600 mile race. France is well represented with Stephane Peterhansel, Bruno Saby and Luc Alphand. Other nationalities also include entrants from Spain, Japan, Portugal, England, Russia, China, Holland and the USA. USA is represented by NASCAR, Indy Car, and Baja Star Robby Gordon with Veteran Dakar Racer Darrin Skilton as navigator in Robby Gordon's Hummer H-3 entry. Robby and Darrin are proudly carrying the Stars and Stripes for Jim Beam Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, GM’s indestructible Hummer brand, and every Red Blooded American from sea to shining sea.Several other competitors from the USA include;
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9 Chris Blais - blaisracing.com
23 Andy Grider - griderracing.com
42 Jonah Street - rallypanam.com
98 Mike Krynock - rallypanam.com
99 Charlie Rauseo - rallypanam.com
132 James Embro - none
180 Kevin Heath - KevinsMidLifeCrisis.com
242 Scott Whitney / Duane McDowell - HogWildRacing.com
309 Mark Miller - Mark Miller
335 Robby Gordon / Darren Skilton - robbygordon.com
354 Ronn Bailey / Herve Cotel - vanguardracing.com

The Volkswagen team, (AKA Team Mega Bucks). With victories in three of nine rallies entered and a 2005 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup title to defend, the Volkswagen team has more than a few years at it. Volkswagen challenges Dakar with its improved but unproved Race Touareg 2, which is enhanced with visibility, handling, chassis, suspension, engine and transmission and last but not least, improved user friendliness. Volkswagen's almost 100 million dollar commitment could easily fund five NEXTEL Cup budgets in quest for victory in truly only one event. Their 2006 ambition for the Dakar include six Race Touareg's, dozens of support trucks, and countless personnel. American, Mark Miller out-performed another American, Ryan Arciero in pre-Dakar testing. Mark Miller makes his first start on the Volkswagen team after filling in the vacated spot of Robby Gordon. Robby Gordon turned down Team Volkswagen for 2006 and chose to take a different approach to the 9000 kilometer race. Miller joins the capable VW team as well as being a Baja 1000 winner on his resume. Robby’s 2005 Navigator Dirk Von Zitzewitz will be joining Miller in the #309 Volkswagen for 2006.


VW is well prepared and are a threat to win.

Stepahane Peterhansel also thinks so, by stating, "VW will be strong. Volkswagen has several drivers capable of winning. With six entries; We are afraid of their team but we have to concentrate on our race and not make any errors. I think it will be a race of attrition - any driver Making just one error or damaging their car will be out of the running for victory. If we don't make any errors then we won't be far from first position." Stepahane has been there before. The field for a "raid into the extreme" Peterhansel returns to Dakar with the Mitsubishi Team, however; don't discount him. Peterhansel has eight Dakar victories to his name.



The stage has been set and the stories are yet to be told. One thing is for certain, this year's Dakar will excite. Will Robby’s combination prove to be all he calculated? Or will the half-dozen-entry numbers game of the 100 million Dollar mega teams prove to buy… A bitter sweet victory from attrition? We will see it all unfold. The 2006 Dakar begins on December 31, 2005 and ends on January 15, 2006, in Dakar, Africa.


Coverage in the U.S. Robby's effort will be packing no less than 5 on-board cameras! Robby and all the other teams will be on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN). This is over 20 hours of broadcast time!!!