All-new Range Rover Sport Conquers The desert and Sets Fastest Recorded Time
The new Range Rover Sport has set the fastest recorded time for a land vehicle crossing of one of the harshest and most challenging desert environments in the world, the 'Empty Quarter'. Also known as Rub' al Khali, the 'Empty Quarter' is the largest sand desert in the world and the second largest desert after the Sahara. It is intensely hot by day with temperatures of over 50°C and it is dangerously arid. The ever-shifting terrain and no reliable source of water, the Empty Quarter provided the true test for man and machine. The drive team completed the journey from Wadi Adda Wasir in Saudi Arabia to the border of the United Arab Emirates in 10 hours and 22 minutes at an average speed of 51.87 mph (81.87 km/h), covering about 849km.
The time was set by a standard production new Range Rover Sport with a 510PS 5-liter supercharged V8 petrol engine, running on standard tyres. The fitment of an underbody protection plate was the only modification that was done to the vehicle.
The drive was Land Rover's driver Moi Torrallardona, a 47 year-old Spanish off road racer with extensive experience of the Dakar Rally. He competed for ten successive years with a best finish of 6th overall.
“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. 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 judgment. This unique way of driving requires a vehicle which has the same skill set – 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.” Said Moi Torrallardona.
The landscape was constantly challenging with vast sand flats, soft dunes and epic canyons. The team set off at first light on November 3rd and finished the challenge 10 hours later on the border at sunset. This is the second challenge that the new Range Rover Sport has completed in recent months, after its record hill climb for a production SUV at Pikes Peak back in June.
Credits: Oneshift News Team
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