Textar sponsors world record attempt from Dakar to Moscow in four days

Luxembourg, Leverkusen, 19 April 2017. The experienced long-distance driver Rainer Zietlow is planning to drive from Dakar to Moscow in just four days in a VW Amarok equipped with Textar brake pads, and to break the world record in the process. The drive will commence from the Senegalese capital on 22 April. Facing the team, which also includes two journalists, is a route of about 8,000 kilometres that extends through four time zones, with challenges such as bumpy dirt roads, potholes, border crossings and obstacles like camels and donkeys on the roads. Textar is sponsoring the project and is not only represented with its brand logo on the driver’s door but is also contributing copper-free brake pads for the new Amarok especially for this world record attempt. The brake pads feature a customized stamp especially for the marathon trip.

“This was not an everyday task for our developers. However our team has mastered this challenge with flying colours, especially considering the tight timeframe”, says Stephan Giesecke, Head of Regional Marketing at TMD Friction. “We are delighted to be supporting Rainer Zietlow and his team in this exciting project. We are pleased to be involved in an endurance test such as this, as long service life is another key strength of our material alongside safety and comfort.”

Driver Rainer Zietlow, who has already set some exceptional driving records, is also delighted to have been provided with the brake pads so quickly and at such short notice. The new Textar brake pads were installed at an off-road workshop in Rösrath near Cologne during a sponsorship event shortly before the team’s departure to Dakar. Before starting the world record trip, Rainer Zietlow will also hand over a donation of 1,500 euros to the “SOS-Kinderdorf” charity in Dakar – which amounts to around 20 cents per kilometre travelled. Zietlow has been a big supporter of the aid project since 2005.

The world record attempt can be followed at www.amarok-dakar-moscow.com, where the team regularly posts status updates.

Textar supports Rainer Zietlow in his latest world record attempt with copper-free brake pads developed by Textar and featuring a customized stamp.

Stephan Giesecke, Head of Regional Marketing at TMD Friction, handed over the new brake pad symbolically to world record driver Rainer Zietlow during a sponsorship event at an off-road workshop in Rösrath near Cologne.

Photos: Copyright TMD Friction, 2017. Reproduction permitted free of charge provided source is cited. Please send us a specimen copy.