It is one of the hardest and most challenging motorsport events in the world, and one that can reward as greatly as it can punish. Played out in front of a potential audience of 4.5 million spectators, and broadcast on television to 190 countries worldwide, the 2013 edition of the Dakar Rally will include multiple Motul-supported entries covering all four main categories – bike, quad, car and truck. The company’s involvement also signals involvement with a multi-national gathering of automotive manufacturers such as Honda, BMW, Chevrolet, Yamaha, Toyota, Mitsubishi and KTM. The 700+ competitors will cover more than 8000 kilometres through Peru, Argentina and Chile in South America from 5-20 January 2013.
Global lubricant specialists, Motul, whose products are present in over 85 markets throughout the world, will be a technical partner in the 35th Dakar Rally to almost 30 vehicles on the entry list (see full list below). Headlining the Motul line-up is Team HRC which is returning to the Dakar with full Honda factory backing to take the battle for victory to the KTM team. A five-time Dakar winner in the past, the Honda HRC squad has brought together a highly experienced three-rider team and support personnel for its attack on the 2013 event.
The largest representation of Motul-supported teams is in the Cars category – 18 entries – with vehicles from worldwide manufacturers. A large Motul spotlight will be on the Trophy-Truck Chevrolet EVR entry of former FIA World Cup Champion Eric Vigouroux. The Frenchman’s eponymous team, which has support from Chevrolet, has already shown its potential in 2012 by winning the Rally of Morocco and the 24 Hours of Morocco and is one of the favourites for 2WD Dakar success. EVR is joined by several other Motul-supported teams including the 2010/11 T2 category winning Team Toyota Autobody from Japan. They will be running a bio-diesel fuelled Toyota Landcruiser.
Also from France, and in the Cars category, is the very experienced SMG team with its five entries, one of which will be driven by 2009 FIA Rallye Raid Champion and former World Freeride Ski Champion, Guerlain Chicherit. SMG’s three Buggy entries will be challenged all the way by the eight from Team MD Rallye Sport. The competition is likely to be intense even before the route is taken into consideration!
In the Quad class, Alexis Hernandez from Honda Racing Peru’s Honda will be challenging for victory, while in the Trucks category the Neo Rally Raid Team’s Mercedes will be battling it out with Rally Raid Belgica’s MAN.
The Dakar is recognised as being the world’s greatest rally raid adventure and there is no room for any mechanical weakness; Motul’s proven technical reliability in this arena, using specially adapted lubricants and coolants from its 300V range for high performance and maximum protection, are indispensable to its competitors.
Motul benefits from participation in endurance events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Isle of Man TT, Pike’s Peak and the Dakar rally to technically develop their products, using the extreme competition and conditions as a living laboratory.
