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SCORE Announces Volkswagen is new Official Vehicle of SCORE International
Ensenada, Mexico (6-1-2007)
Today in Ensenada SCORE announced that Volkswagen of America, Inc. has agreed to a multi-year marketing partnership with SCORE International to become the Official Vehicle of SCORE effective immediately.
The announcement was made the day before the start of the 39th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 500 where Volkswagen of America has entered two VW Race Touaregs. This is the first time in history that Volkswagen of America has officially entered the Baja 500.
"It is a tremendous honor for SCORE to be able to announce that Volkswagen has become the official vehicle of SCORE International," said Sal Fish, SCORE CEO/President since 1973. "Volkswagens and those amazing air-cooled VW engines are part of the foundation of desert racing and to have Volkswagen reach out in this manner is a tribute to the thousands of VWs and VW-powered vehicles that have been such an integral part of our sport since its beginnings. We look forward to working with Volkswagen to develop and execute a pro-active marketing strategy as well as assist them with the special research and development opportunity that only our sport offers."
Fish also commented that the VW Thing was the first official SCORE vehicle in 1973 that he used to scout race course routes and mark the course.
These days the VW to contend with sports an inline 5 cylinder, 2.5 litre four valve per cylinder TDI diesel engine with a two stage intercooled turbo charger system. The four wheel drive two turbo-diesel powered Touregs are famous for their domination in Dakar and were flown in from Europe to attempt to tame the rough Baja terrain. One Touareg will be driven by experienced Baja racer Mark Miller who placed an impressive fourth overall in this year's Dakar Rally. The second car will be piloted by South African Giniel de Villers.
SCORE created a new class for the vehicles called the International Truck class which will start after the Trophy Trucks and before the Class 1 cars. Many of the Class 1 drivers have been complaining that the Touaregs will be starting in front claiming that they will be too slow and will back the Class 1s up. Miller and de Villers are out to prove them wrong. The Touregs are expected to be faster through the tight and technical sections and the wide open stretches but a bit slower through the big bumps. One thing the Touregs are noticeably missing are front and rear nerf bars. It will make for some interesting racing tomorrow.
