Prodrive Dakar car hits road

Road-legal 550bhp rally raider to make its debut this week; 25-car run planned

- STEVE CROPLEY

Prodrive is putting the finishing touches to the first road-going version of its latest Bahraini backed Dakar Rally car, the BRX Hunter T1+, and intends to have it ready to drive through Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in time for the start of the 2022 event this week.

The first road car, built for Bahrain’s Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, spearheads a batch of 25 road-going T1s that will be produced at Prodrive’s Banbury HQ over the next two years. Exact pricing is still being worked out, but it is understood cars will cost around £1.25 million apiece.

Prodrive chairman David Richards has previously described the road-going Hunter T1 as “the Ferrari of the desert” and has created the vehicle to be the fastest cross-country production car in the world. An elaborate Prodrive brochure, just issued, features the compelling line: “Where we’re going we don’t need roads.”

MANTHEY CREATES 911 GT3 UPGRADE

Porsche racing partner Manthey has turned its hand to the new 911 GT3, with the aim of breaking a Nürburgring lap record. The package includes a bespoke suspension set-up, hardcore brakes and enhanced aero. It should cost around £70,000.

NEW VW MULTIVAN ON SALE FROM £43K