The Bahrain Raid Extreme has gone a step further in its Dakar Rally project for 2022, which is taking place in Saudi Arabia from the 2 to the 14 of January. In their 2021 debut, the team got fifth place with Nani Roma, 2004 (bike) & 2014 (car) Dakar champ but suffered the retirement of Sebastien Loeb. 

Its 4×4, which is based on its predecessor but has been developed to adapt to the regulations of the new category T1 +, incorporates an important new feature. The BRX Hunter T1 + will use a sustainable fuel in its second appearance at the legendary raid. 

Prodrive, which leads the technical development of the team, released details of this new feature this past Wednesday. The engineering group has also been developing an environment-friendly fuel over the last eight months which has been given the name of Prodrive ECOpower. 

https://twitter.com/BRaidXtreme/status/1448221805118992389

This fuel for the BRX Hunter T1+, which was produced in collaboration with Coryton Advanced Fuels, has been tested over several days in the last few weeks in Wales, obtaining very positive results. The combustible is made up of second-generation biofuels, which are obtained from agricultural waste, and it reduces greenhouse gas emissions by around 80%, compared to regular fuels. 

What is more, according to its manufacturers, the ‘green compound’ can be used in ordinary vehicles to replace unleaded gasoline. The company is, in fact, hoping to start trailing it in some other vehicles and is eager to demonstrate how it could improve everyday mobiliy. 

Prodrive, very proud

Prodrive, chairman, David Richards, said: “I am a great advocate of motorsport taking the lead in developing, proving and promoting new technologies that can help address climate change. Covering thousands of miles across the toughest terrains, the Dakar and the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies are the perfect environment to showcase the benefits of the next generation of sustainable fuels and demonstrate that they can be used in road vehicles to reduce the use of fossil fuels, while still offering the same performance and range.”

BRX Hunter T1+, a more efficient car for the dunes 

There are other important novelties to the BRX Hunter T1 + besides its biofuel. These include its longer suspension, which increases from 280 mm to 350 mm, aimed at improving its performance on rugged and broken tracks, as well as the widening of the body to 2.30 meters, 30 centimetres more than its predecessor, which makes the vehicle more stable. 

A set of larger wheels will also enhance its agility in sand. The BRX Hunter T1 + will be fitted with 37-inch tires, the same size used by buggies, which proved to be very resistant to the recurrent punctures of the Saudi race. Finally, its minimum weight has gone up from 1,859 kg to 1950 kg. 

These changes have also required the reinforcement of other components, especially in sensitive areas such as the chassis and the brake and suspension systems. At the same time, the 4×4 has undergone other changes in parts such as the windshield wipers and the hydraulic jacks. All in all, the new The BRX Hunter T1 + can be considered a very different vehicle from its predecessor. 

An intense testing program 

In a purely competitive sense, the team continues with its preparations for its second year at the most famous and toughest rally in the world. As part of this testing program with the new BRX Hunter T1+, the Spaniard Nani Roma and his new co-driver, Alex Haro featured in a section of the WRC Wales Rally at the beginning of September. 

The Catalan teammates will, in fact, be the first to use the bio-fuel ‘in race’ in three weeks’ time at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which is taking place from November 5 to 11. After this, they will compete in the Hail International Rally, December 6-11. As a preliminary step to these two  appointments, however, they will carry out several other training sessions starting next week in Abu Dhabi. Will they spread the champagne?

Images of BRX Hunter T1+: Bahrain Raid Extreme.