2011 WILDCAT TROPHY - FIRST ROUND
By finishing on the second place of the Africa Eco Race 2010, Jérôme Pelichet and Eugénie Decré proved that a Wildcat can be honoured in major African races. A fantastic car, motivated drivers and a spirit well anchored in the values of the rally raid…Success is there for the Wildcat Trophy… a race within the race! Initiator of this trophy, born four years ago, Eugénie Decré comments the common values of Africa Race and Wildcat Trophy.
"Just like this year, Africa Race will kick off to the 2011 Wildcat Trophy season. « Wildcats » felt particularly comfortable on the 2010 edition and we really enjoyed. The route was magic from the first to the last kilometres. Magnificent landscapes, sand, driving, and real navigation (unfortunately less privileged nowadays on most of rallies)!
We shall remember for a long time the quality of the stages, the flavour of the African bivouacs and the warm welcome of the crossed countries. For 2011 edition, participants of the Trophy have already widely answered favourably and this first round of the future season will be a hard contest.
As Africa Race, Wildcat Trophy revives with the original spirit of the rally-raids where mutual help, on track or at the bivouac, are real. On the technical side, Wildcats evolves in the same philosophy as this race by proposing to beginners or to confirmed drivers the possibility to live their passion at very reasonable costs.Two diesel and two gasoline motorisations are now available. Moreover, spare parts are easily interchangeable. This point plays a key role on the operating costs, adaptable to each budget. The Wildcat is the ideal vehicle to begin and then to progress in the discipline. Future is always very promising! "
Close-up on the Predator Challenge
Thierry Charbonnier, head of Predator Motors Europe with Robert Critchlow, is the official importer of Predator X-18 for Europe. These Californian buggies, typically " made in the USA ", propose a new approach in the rally raid world. Powerful, light and easy to drive, X-18 is now adapted and developed to participate in the most demanding events. On the occasion of the third Africa Eco Race edition, Thierry Charbonnier organizes the first " Predator Challenge ". Following the example of the “Wildcat Trophy”, the Predator Challenge proposes to the X-18 drivers a specific classification … An other race within the race!
Thierry Charbonnier, several times titled in Enduro (two world crowns), built up a brillant record by participating in the major rally raid races on two wheels. His career took a new direction in 1998, when he started to compete on four wheels. Today, head of Predator Motors Europe, a new adventure is born: “Predator is a very good vehicle. We adapted the X-18 to the rally raid technical specificities and the results are there. Reliable and very fun to drive, Predator represents a good compromise and its quality-price-performance ratio is very competitive. This vehicle is ideal to enter the 2011 Africa Race! Moreover, the first Challenge reserved for Predators will be created on this occasion. I’ll be, of course, part of it … The race already looks fascinating and the drivers show a deep interest to compete in a " big event " crossing the most beautiful African tracks."
