Volkswagen Motorsports

In an effort to promote Volkswagen’s diesel technology in the U.S, Volkswagen Motorsports has decided to enter their 285 hp Volkswagen Touareg 2 desert rally-car into the 2007 SCORE Baja 500. 

Mark Miller (right), Ralph Pitchford

They will be racing two Volkswagen Motorsports rally-cars powered by the ever powerful and fuel efficient line of Volkswagen TDI diesel engines. These race vehicles are the exact same ones used to race the 2007 Dakar Ralley.  The vehicles have been imported from Europe into the U.S., and will be race ready come the Baja 500.

The drivers of record will be Baja 500 and Baja 1000 winner Mark Miller, who is now involved with the Volkswagen Motorsports Dakar Ralley program.  Miller will be joined by co-driver Ralph Pitchford from South Africa.  In another Toureg 2 rally-car will be Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (South Africa/Germany).

Giniel de Villiers		Dirk von Zitzewitz

SCORE International has made the exception for these impressive rally cars to come into Baja and race along the sides of the unlimited SCORE Trophy Trucks and Class 1 cars.  The Volkswagen Touaregs will be starting after the Trophy Trucks, and before Class 1.

Off-Road.com has been invited to participate in a Volkswagen Touareg pre-run in lieu of the 2007 SCORE Baja 500.  We will be following the Volkswagen Motorsports race efforts closely at this year’s SCORE International Baja 500.

Stay tuned for more on the Volkswagen Touareg and the Baja 500 in the coming days.

Volkswagen Motorsports

2007 SCORE Baja 500 is June 1 – 3, 2007
More information on the SCORE Baja 500 at: www.score-international.com