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TH-Trucks Rally Team and CAP 4 Racing will be entering a three-crew team at the helm of the Polaris RZR Pro R in the T4 category of the Dakar Rally, which will take place in Saudi Arabia from 5th January 2024.
Specialists in competition and assistance trucks with more than 25 years of experience in the field, TH-Trucks Rally Team has partnered with CAP 4 Racing to build three Polaris RZR Pro R side-by-side vehicles for the Dakar Rally’s T4 category. This will mark eight Polaris RZRs on the starting grid; the largest starting lineup the brand has seen in its 12 years of Dakar participation, represented by the TH-Trucks team, Polaris Factory Xtremeplus team, and the Sebastien Loeb Racing team.
“Back in 2021, we supported the Polaris US Factory Racing Team with their first Dakar Rally; that’s when we first saw a spark and witnessed the potential of this brand,” said Alberto Herrera, Technical Director of TH-Trucks. “I had raced in the Dakar three times before, and that’s how I discovered the capabilities of the SSVs. I was eager for a change and was offered incredible support from our closest Polaris dealer, Polaris Burgos, so that was all the motivation I needed to try and win with the RZR Pro R.
“This vehicle was made from scratch specifically with racing in mind, and that’s something that is very important when it comes to being competitive in Dakar. We need reliability and power, but also consideration to the cost for our pilots; SSVs are certainly cheaper to run than a car, which makes it an even more accessible and attractive package.”
Developed by the high-performance rally raid vehicle specialists, CAP 4 Racing, the RZR Pro R units have been tested extensively in Morocco by Ariel Jaton, with close attention to the optimisation of drive performance, weight reduction and improved strength. Thanks to its reliability, the engine remains untouched, however standard elements like the A-Arms and suspension anchorages have been reinforced, as well as changes to reduce the chance of rolling and a weight reduction of 100kg; all resulting in increased efficiency and manoeuvrability. To ensure compliance with the FIA T4 regulatory requirements, other changes have been made including new electronics, a tubular chassis and a 130-litre fuel tank.
“The goal for the year is to be on the podium,” continued Herrera. “With the powerful Pro R, we are confident that we could achieve a podium finish and all three teams can successfully complete the Dakar Rally, which is certainly no mean feat. Whatever the outcome, we can be sure that Dakar 2024 will be an exciting journey.”
Not only looking at the short term, the team also sets its sights on the Spanish CERTT Championship with two units already confirmed. The teams will be integrated by Domingo Román and Óscar Bravo, as well as the owners of TH-Trucks and leaders of the project, Susana Hernando and Alberto Herrera, who for the first time, will be changing trucks for SSVs.
The 2024 Dakar Rally begins on 5 January.
Follow the team’s progress via social media: FB – @thtrucksteam / IG – @thtrucks_team
For more information on the Polaris RZR Pro R, please contact the Polaris ORV Media Office at press@polaris-orv.media
For more information on the TH-Trucks Rally team, please contact info@th-trucks.com
ABOUT POLARIS
As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris’ high-quality product line-up includes the Polaris RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman® all-terrain off-road vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles; Indian Motorcycle® mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot® moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe.
