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NEWS
RR Sport sets record crossing Empty Quarter
Supercharged luxo SUV blasts across punishing Arabian terrain to set a new benchmark for the Empty Quarter desert crossingFive months ago the new Range Rover Sport eclipsed the existing record for production cars at the iconic Pikes Peak hillclimb, and now the luxo SUV has set a slightly more obscure benchmark by notching up the fastest crossing of the ‘Empty Quarter’ that spans across Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Piloted by Dakar Rally veteran Moi Torrallardona (pictured), the 375kW 5.0-litre supercharged V8 Rangie Sport completed the journey from Wadi Ad Dawasir in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the border of the United Arab Emirates in 10 hours and 22 minutes at an average speed of 81.87 km/h, covering a distance of over 849km – the route dictated by the conditions on the ground.
‘Empty Quarter’ is in fact a slight misnomer, as the forbidding region comprises vast sandy expanses, rocky sections and canyons that all combine to impede rapid progress.
Because of its largely barren terrain, not to mention its intense 50-degree-plus heat, the Empty Quarter has long been judged too unforgiving for all but the most resourceful humans and has no permanent settlements.
At its fringes it is still home to the Bedouin, who have been crisscrossing this lonely territory for centuries, but not until 1931 had any Westerner traversed the Empty Quarter.
Torrallardona completed his 849km dash across the desert in a vehicle that Range Rover says was all but bog-standard, even down to the tyres. The only modification was the fitment of an underbody protection plate.
“The challenge of the desert is like nothing else, it is a brutal, unforgiving and sometimes deadly environment. Desert driving requires a unique combination of speed, finesse and technical skill,” said the 47-year-old Spanish rally ace.
“It is crucial that you tackle the dunes with precision. Knowing the right time to go full throttle and the right time to slow down, takes experience and clear judgement.
“This unique way of driving requires a vehicle which has the same skillset – it must be both incredibly fast but also agile, responsive and well planted. The Range Rover Sport is exactly that. It is massively capable and is truly the best tool for conquering the desert.”
This latest feat – and the Pikes Peak record that preceded it – is part of a series of global driving challenges designed to drum up publicity and showcase the dynamic abilities of the second-gen Range Rover Sport.
A short documentary of the record attempt is to follow in the first week of December and will be available to download from Land Rover’s website, in addition to being posted on youtube.
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Written byGautam Sharma
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