ORECA prepares engines for the Riwald Dakar Team

On January 1, 2012, the Dakar competitors will start from Mar Del Plata, in Argentina, to reach Lima, Peru 15 days later, passing through Chile on the way. The Dutch team Riwald Dakar Team will be at the start of the legendary rally-raid event with three Mitsubishi Lancer MRP10 with engines prepared by ORECA Magny-Cours.

Riwald Dakar Team, who are making their debut at the Dakar, presented its entry last week in the Netherlands. The team will enter no less than three Mitsubishi Lancer MRP10, originally developed by the factory but now powered by a petrol engine. These V6 4.0 litre engines passed through the workshops at ORECA Magny-Cours to be prepared and tested. Among other work, ORECA produced the engines’ mapping and provided its know-how with the Magnetti Marelli electronic management system.

The first Lancer will be driven by the Dutch Bernhard Ten Brinke, winner of the last Rallye du Maroc, his first rally-raid event ever. He will be joined by the veteran Frenchman Matthieu Baumel, former co-driver for Guerlain Chicherit and Carlos Sousa. Erik Wevers, the project starter, will drive the second Lancer with Fabian Lurquin as co-driver. A third car will be racing, with Gert Huzink and Eugénie Decré onboard.
So there will be a little bit of ORECA in South America next January. But not only with the Riwald Dakar Team. Other teams have also called on the expertise of the Groupe…