EVR Proto VX-101 to challenge Dakar 2014
Wed, 13 Nov 2013
Eric Vigouroux and BJ Baldwin are two of the top drivers in off-road racing. Vigouroux has won almost every rally raid he's entered in the last four years, taking the FIA World Cup Championship in the 2WD category in 2010 and beating all the factory teams to win the Rally of Morocco last year. BJ Baldwin, meanwhile, has won four off-road racing championships in the past six years. Both have competed in Dakar in GM machinery before, and for next year's event, they're teaming up to contest the famous rally in the truck you see here.
Designed in collaboration between Eric Vigouroux Racing and Jefferies Racing, the EVR Proto VX-101 appears to be nominally based on the overseas-market Chevy Colorado (or at least styled to look like one) and packs a 7.0-liter LS7 V8, like that which powers the Corvette Z06 and Camaro Z/28, but tuned by Corvette Racing and mated to a Fortin sequential gearbox.
Vigouroux will pilot one and Baldwin the other as they shoot for the top of the two-wheel-drive category in the 2014 Dakar Rally. We look forward to seeing how the project progresses, but in the meantime, you can check out the renderings in the gallery above and the details in the press release below.
ERIC VIGOUROUX AND 'BALLISTIC' BJ BALDWIN WITH NEW EVR PROTO VX-101 RALLY RAID CONCEPT IN LE DAKAR 2014
- Experienced and spectacular desert raid drivers team up for victory in 2WD category
- Totally new rally pickup truck with powerful V8 engine
- EVR and Jefferies Racing have joined forces
- High potential for top team
APPLE VALLEY, USA, November 8, 2013 - Eric Vigouroux Racing has announced their participation with two new developed pickup trucks in Le Dakar 2014 in collaboration with Jefferies Racing. Experienced Dakar pilot Eric Vigouroux from France, living in California will team up with American off road racing ace 'Ballistic' BJ Baldwin. The new pickup truck has been designed and built in cooperation with Jefferies Racing.
EVR Proto VX 101 Rally Raid Concept
The pair will drive the latest and technically most advanced desert racer, theEVR Proto VX 101 Rally Raid Concept, powered by a LS7 Corvette Racing engine, coupled to a Fortin sequential gearbox.
Eric Vigouroux: "After several seasons with my Chevrolet Silverado for top honours in the past years we have decided to develop and build a totally new race truck. Based on our experience Jefferies Racing in California, USA, has constructed two competition vehicles. Despite Dakar 2014 being the first real competition for the EVR Proto VX 101 Rally Raid Concept, our goal is to show the world the potential of our team."
Eric Vigouroux
Eric Vigouroux, Frenchman by birth but living in San Diego, USA, is a veteran off-road racer. In 2014 Eric will contest his 14th Dakar. Vigouroux has won almost every rally raid he entered the last four years. In 2010 he became FIA World Cup Champion in the 2WD category and last year Eric was the overall winner of the 2012 Rally of Morocco against all the factory teams. With fifteen years of experience, a professional team and a totally new, high-performance pickup, Vigouroux definitely has the potential to create some big surprises.
BJ Baldwin
BJ Baldwin is a very well-known rally raid driver in the USA and has competed in all different types of off-road racing. He holds four championships in the last six years with several race wins including the Baja 500 and he drove a HUMMER in 2010 in Dakar 2010. With great experience and having competed in over 500 desert races, BJ Baldwin can be reckoned to be a top ten finisher in Dakar 2014 and could win some special stages.
By Noah Joseph