The 2021 Dakar Rally will feature a new contender in the shape of the BRX Hunter. This purpose-built racer will be driven by Dakar regular and multiple World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb with a second car driven by Nani Roma. The project is undertaken by rally and racecar specialists Prodrive under the direction of The Kingdom of Bahrain. Check out our 2020 Dakar Rally highlights gallery here.
The world’s most gruelling off-road race starts in just a few weeks on January 3. Saudi Arabia will, once again, play host to the entire race, though each kilometre of the route will be completely new. Racers will start their 2021 adventure in Jeddah and end at the same location on January 15.
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New rules
The BRX Hunter was penned by former director of design at Jaguar, Ian Callum, and it aims to exploit a new set of rules instituted for the 2021 Dakar Rally that allows teams to use manufacturer-sourced turbocharged petrol engines. Until now cars have been powered by turbodiesels or naturally aspirated petrol-fed engines.
Check out our bespoke gallery of Dakar Man, Giniel de Villiers by clicking here.
The BRX (for Bahrain Raid Xtreme) Hunter is based on a tubular steel structure that is covered by lightweight carbon-fibre body panels. Power is provided by a Ford-sourced 3,5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 that produces 300 kW and 700 N.m of torque. Drive is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed sequential gearbox. The car is suspended by double-wishbones and twin dampers at each corner, and has a dry weight of 1 850 kg. With Loeb and Roma behind the wheel, the BRX Hunter will be a force to be reckoned with.
Audi will race at the 2022 Dakar Rally, as you can read at this link.
In his own words
Team director David Richards, founder and chairman of Prodrive, commented: “The Dakar Rally is one of the great challenges within motorsport, and one that Prodrive has been wanting to undertake for a long time; waiting for the right opportunity. The idea came from HRH Prince Salman for Bahrain to enter a team. That was the birth of BRX.
“Our design team has been working on the car for over nine months. We have already been evaluating the engine on our transient dyno in Banbury and the first chassis is now being assembled in our workshop. The formation of a new team is incredibly exciting for everyone involved, and we truly believe we have created a team and car that is perfect to take on the Dakar Rally.”
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