Miller And Gordon Place, Make History At Dakar
U.S. competitor Mark Miller piloted Volkswagen's 4x4 Touareg 2 through the terrain and travails of this year's Dakar Rally, to place Second in the "Car Class" of this famed event. Miller and co-driver, Ralph Pitchford of South Africa, won the highest placement for a U.S. team in Dakar history. Miller, one of four factory drivers for the German automaker this year, started fourth in the rally. Miller says "psychological strength, extreme concentration, and a relaxed manner" are the attributes that help him achieve success as a racer. Miller placed Fourth in the 2007 Dakar Rally, and finished as best-placed Volkswagen driver and Second Place in the Rally dos Sertes in Brazil in June 2008-including three stage victories in the Race Touareg. In the 2008 Baja 1000, Miller piloted a Volkswagen Baja Race Touareg TDI specifically developed to comply with the SCORE regulations. Miller also has two overall Baja victories in 2003 and 2004.
Robby Gordon and navigator Andy Grider of Team Dakar USA, drove their crowd-pleasing Monster Energy/Toyo Tires Hummer H3 to a Third Place victory in the "Car Class" of the 2009 Dakar. The pair have partnered before in endurance off-road racing, winning the 2006 Baja 1000 in a Chevrolet trophy truck. During the 2007 Dakar, they earned a Stage 6 win and also won the Open Class of Dakar that year, finishing Eighth overall in the Hummer H3. During the 2008, they competed in the Central Europe Rally that ran through Hungary and Romania, garnering Second Place in the Car Class during Stage 1, and winning "specials" during Stages 5 and 6.
-Sue Mead