BRP’s Can-Am Commander SSV Wins Morocco Rally
OutdoorHub 11.02.11
Morocco, Africa, November 1, 2011 – BRP’s Can-Am Commander side-by-side vehicle (SSV), driven by Francisco Lopez and co-pilot Claudio Troncoso, won the Morocco Rally in the UTV category after covering 2,000 kilometres of challenging African terrains.
The duo made international headlines last week due to their impressive finish in the Morocco Rally, becoming the only UTV competitor to complete the six gruelling stages of the 2011 edition, in addition to placing 21st within the car category. Lopez and his Can-Am Nextel Team attributed their victory to the pilots’ experience, the Can-Am Commander SSV’s outstanding performance, and the unwavering support of Jaton Racing, a Spanish company that prepared the side-by-side vehicle for the race, and provided mechanical assistance through its duration.
“Our starting objective for the race was clear: test the Can-Am Commander SSV’s capacity in difficult terrains to ensure a solid performance in the 2012 Dakar. We weren’t aspiring to win,” Lopez commented after the race. “By the last day, we had a new objective: become the first vehicle in the history of UTVs to finish the Morocco Rally.”
The Can-Am Nextel Team, who drew substantial media attention during its first appearance in the 2011 Dakar, set their sights on the Moroccan desert in early 2011. The purpose was to learn from BRP’s Can-Am Commander SSV’s performance in a rally that would allow them to adapt the unit and ensure a victorious 2012 Dakar appearance in the UTV category.
“BRP’s Can-Am Commander SSV reflects our DNA in its purest tradition,” said Chris Dawson, vice-president and general manager, International division. “This very unique side by- side has been designed to bring a new level of power, cutting-edge design and meaningful innovations. To finish first in its category in its first test – the only SSV to complete the race – certainly delivers on our promise.”
The Can-Am Nextel Team’s will take the wheel of a 2011 Can-Am Commander SSV in a quest to secure their second international rally victory in the UTV segment at the 34th edition of the Dakar Rally.
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorised recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and boats, Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines, Can-Am all-terrain and side-by-side vehicles and roadsters, as well as Rotax engines. BRP products are distributed in more than 100 countries.
Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo, Lynx, Evinrude, Johnson, Can-Am, Rotax and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
