Off-Road Sports Cars? Yes, Please
Who would've thought that off-road sports cars would be a thing? We're not talking crossovers that happen to have a lot of horsepower here, and good luck taking them dune-bashing without breaking anything. Instead, we're getting proper sports cars getting outfitted for the rough stuff, and we're all here for it.
One shining example is, or rather was, the Porsche 911 Dakar. Save for a low-range gearbox, the limited-run model came with pretty epic mods straight from the factory, and it's not afraid to get all scratched up, either. That said, one can say that most are bound to gather dust in a garage and not in the great outdoors.
Definitely Not All-Show
Of course, it's understandable why most owners would rather baby the car than really use it for what it can do. With only 2,500 built, preserving it seems like the better option. The thing is, it wastes the potential of the car, and we're glad that there are those who actually stretch the 911 Dakar's legs.
And why wouldn't you play with it on the dirt? It features a specialized suspension system engineered for high-speed off-road use, underbody protection, all-terrain tires, and unique drive modes, and it can be raised to provide more ground clearance than some crossovers.
Proving its Worth
Social media has shown a couple of 911 Dakars in their element, but one family wanted to prove that the car is more than capable of taking on tougher challenges. That's why one was entered in the gruelling Rally dos Sertões by Susele and Fredy Piotto Vogt. Oh, and it's their personal 911 Dakar that ran the rally. That, folks, is how you enjoy the car.
What is Rally dos Sertões, you ask? It's a competition held in Brazil and has been running since 1993. Think of it as a mini version of the Dakar Rally, but that doesn't make it any less difficult. The route saw the Piotto Vogt family (they brought their son, cat, and dog along) drive through forest stages, river crossings, and rough roads that would make most crossover owners wince.
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Winning in Life
The Rally dos Sertões is mainly for motorcycles and ATVs, but cars are also welcome to join. That said, the 911 Dakar is a special vehicle and therefore not eligible for the main competition group. Still, even with no prizes on hand, the Piotto Vogt family just went out there and did it.
If anything, the special route for non-classified competitors was even longer than the actual rally. All in all, they travelled 4,623 miles in the 911, mostly on unpaved roads for eight days. They also used a Mercedes-Benz G-Class as a support vehicle, and the couple rotated driving duties between stages.
No trophies, no cash prizes, but the Piotto Vogt family won something far greater than that. That would be the adventure they made and all the experiences in between. Not a lot of people can say they embarked on an off-road trek over 4,500 miles long, and fewer still can say they completed a rally even in their personal Porsche. We're pretty sure their son has epic tales to share with his classmates, too.
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