Not exactly a dream come true, the conditions in the Dakar Rally awaiting Nasser Al-Attiyah, the driver from Qatar: a whole lot of sand, sweat and grime in the place of champagne and beautiful girls. But despite the hardships, the 38 year-old committed himself to rally sport many years ago. We document one of the most vibrant personalities from the current racing scene.
With the famous Dakar Rally, unquestionably the toughest motor race in the world, it's first and foremost all about getting through, for both people and material. And even when we as normal car drivers don't directly profit from the sometimes unbelievable performances of the racing drivers, we at least benefit from the experience gained from the racing cars and their components. Each part, from the smallest screw up to a twin turbo fuel injection system, is subjected to the very toughest of tests during the Dakar Rally. And such components have to supply a maximum of performance – after all, for the teams it's all about winning. At the end of the rally the engineers know a whole lot more, yet again: knowledge invested in the construction of Golf & Co.
Drivers and co-drivers are often going for each others\' throats. Left, right, straight ahead? Or is the map upside down? In the Dakar Rally, arguments and mistakes simply aren\'t allowed to happen. Those who aim to win this race, the toughest in the world of motor sport, are advised to get to know the terrain and route inside out. The co-pilot and navigator is for the speed and success of the team just as important as the pilot. Which is why the VW team dedicates a whole week to give the navigators enough time to prepare for the still completely unknown route with the aid of maps and the internet.
Toughness and the wilds of nature! Roaring engines and a trip into the unknown in the true sense of the word! The Dakar Rally offers everything to get the heart of an adventurer beating faster. And in a few weeks it's again happening on the South American continent. We show the pressures the drivers must come to terms with in this mega-rally, and how they prepare for them!
