Porsche Oz and Cayenne to tackle Syberia

PORSCHE has revealed its most hard-core Cayenne ever – along with a couple of unlikely Aussie adventurers to drive it for 15 days and 7100km across Syberia.

The German sportscar maker recently unveiled one of 25 specially-prepared Cayenne S Transsyberia SUVs it will produce for 15 national teams to compete in the 2007 TransSyberian Rallye – and last week it announced that one of them will represent Australia.

The Porsche Cars Australia entry will be partnered by jack-of-all-trades automotive journalist David Morley and PCA’s technical manager Paul Watson, who will take on some of the world’s best off-road drivers and it’s most challenging terrain from August 3.

The race starts in the Russian capital of Moscow and finishes in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. Though the non-turbo, V8-engined Cayennes will form most of the grid, the TransSyberian Rallye is expected to attract up to 50 entries from Japanese and European off-road vehicle manufacturers.

Former world rally champion Armin Schwarz will drive Team Germany’s Cayenne S Transsyberia, with two-times Dakar Rally winner Rene Metge driving for France and Rod Millen to pilot a US-entered Cayenne.

According to PCA, Mr Morley’s top-level driving experience and “no frills demeanour” will “suit the ruggedness of the TransSyberian Rallye with competitors to encounter terrain ranging from pristine sub-arctic forests to rocky mountain peaks and rolling desert plains, temperatures from minus zero degrees Celsius to plus 40 degrees Celsius and seven of the 14 nights sleeping under the stars.

“I know blokes who breakdown when there’s no imported beer in their hotel roomMini-bar,” said Mr Morley. “I’m tougher than that. I’ve been to Russia before and done the backpacker thing, so as long as someone gives me a cricket bat to swat the mosquitoes with I reckon we’ll be right.

“Sure, you’re going to have to drive fast for two weeks to win this race, but just as importantly you’ve got to have two blokes who can work together, support each other and keep on smiling even when neither of them has showered for days.

“I know Team Oz is going to have fun on this event, and who knows with alot of luck and the odd bit of sabotage we might even come close to winning thething,” he said.

PCA’s specially-prepared Cayenne S will be powered by a 283kW/500Nm 4.8-litre V8, and fitted with a 100-litre fuel tank and 18x8.0-inch tyres. It has a top speed of 190km/h.

The event finishes in Ulaanbaatar on August 17.

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