Off-road vehicle manufacturer Polaris has debuted its RZR Pro XP that three factory team drivers will race in the SSV class at the 2021 Dakar Rally, the marque’s first appearance at the event.
Polaris notes that the RZR is already a well proven competition package, having won the Baja 1000, Baja 500, short course races, WORCS races, East Coast XC races, and the UTV World Championships in the last year.
“We chose to race at Dakar, because we wanted to showcase what the Polaris RZR Pro XP is capable of, what defines its DNA—the pursuit of constant performance. Our vehicle is built from as many stock parts as possible to show their durability and performance capabilities when competing against the toughest competition in the world,” explained Robert Wilmot, Polaris RZR vehicle architect and lead Dakar engineer.
Among the list of stock Pro XP parts the team will be using are the engine, intercooler, turbo, transmission, hubs, brake calipers and much more, with the vehicle also utilizing a stock wheelbase. The RZR Pro XP is powered by a four-stroke fuel-injected, DOHC, turbocharged, twin cylinder 925cc engine, fueled by a 130L fuel cell, and capable of a top speed of 130km/h (80.77mph).
A Motec ECU with associated wiring, dash and custom switch pad is used for engine control and data logging. The team is also using an FIA homologated chassis, customized by Jimco Racing, based on the Polaris RZR platform.
