The Bahrain Raid Xtreme team return to the heat of the desert for the 2023 Rallye du Maroc (October 13-18) with a two car team of Sébastien Loeb/Fabian Lurquin and Orly Terranova/Bernardo Graue to attack the 2,240kms from Agadir on the Atlantic coast all the way over to Merzouga near the Algerian border. It will once again be an extreme test of human endurance and engineering strength over the six day event that is seen as the perfect preparation for the Dakar Rally in January.
Loeb and Lurquin are keen to get back in the BRX Hunter after their last outing on the Sonora Rally in Mexico but that hasn’t stopped the 9 time WRC Champion being successful behind the wheel of cars in Rallycross, Extreme E and Rallying in the meantime. Belgian Lurquin has had some surgery on his shoulder and has recovered well for the task ahead in Morocco.
Awaiting them at the start line is a freshly built Hunter that has been prepared at the Prodrive base in the UK with the sole aim of victory with the crew and the Bahraini colours across its carbon fibre bodywork. There are a few new tweaks and modifications on the car as the top step of the podium is sought.
Dakar stage winner and close runner up on this rally last year, Terranova returns to the car he’s had speed and success in while this time he will have a new co-driver alongside him in the shape of Bernado Graue as they push hard for another podium.
The Prodrive Hunter T1+ took first and second on the Rallye du Maroc last year, proof of the strength and speed the car holds as the route this year sees a return to the area that was last used in 2021 around a single bivouac at Zagora.
Sébastien Loeb - BRX
“To get back in the Hunter I’m really looking forward to it. Morocco is a very good rally with tracks, dunes and a bit of everything so it will be interesting once more. The nice dunes are in Merzouga but I like the fast tracks too with the good grip which are a bit like WRC in some places which is what I enjoy with this car.”
Orly Terranova - BRX
“Morocco was a great rally last year for me with a second place and this year I aim to push just as strongly as we cross towards the dunes at Merzuoga. I enjoy the tracks and the spirit of this rally so I’m very much looking forward to the stages.”
Gus Beteli, BRX Team Principal
“It’s great to be back in the desert again with our cars and drivers. This rally is the perfect place for us to further improve the Prodrive Hunter and to defend the success it had in Morocco 12 months ago. The engineers and technicians have worked hard over the summer with this in mind plus the focus that we all have on Dakar that isn’t far away. We’re looking forward to it.”
GALLERY
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For more information please contact:
Toby Moody
BRX Media Manager
e: toby.moody@bahrainraidxtreme.com
t: +44 7860 145035
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Bahrain Raid Xtreme
A joint partnership between the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company (Mumtalakat), the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Prodrive the British motorsport and engineering group formed the joint venture Prodrive International in 2020. Building on Prodrive’s extensive experience in developing championship winning race and rally cars, its aim is design and manufacture cars to compete in the Dakar Rally and World Rally Raid Championship. BRX achieved the best finishing position, 5 with Nani Roma on debut in 2021, and 2 with Sebastien Loeb in 2021. Its Hunter cars run Prodrive EcoPower, a sustainable fuel made from agricultural waste by BRX team partner Coryton. The fuel reduces CO2 emissions by 80% compared to standard fuel.
About Prodrive
Prodrive is one of the world’s largest and most successful motorsport and technology businesses. Over 500 staff are employed across its Banbury headquarters and composites manufacturing facility in Milton Keynes. While the company is perhaps best known for motorsport, today it is just one part of an organisation that in the last decade has diversified to become a technology business working in a range of sectors and providing a range of services. Within the Prodrive Group, there are four distinct but interconnected business areas: Motorsport, operating race and rally programmes for vehicle manufacturers and global brands; Advanced Technology, providing innovative technology for the automotive, aerospace, defence, and marine sectors; Composites, developing lightweight composite components for the automotive, aerospace and marine sectors; and Brand& developing bespoke clothing and accessories for leading brands.