The Taurus T3 Max dominated the Dakar Rally‘s Challenger class in January, successful 9 of twelve phases and ending 1–2 with Cristina Gutiérrez and Mitch Guthrie. Nevertheless, they maybe carried out a little bit too properly.
A criticism was lodged towards each drivers’ engines throughout the race, prompting the FIA to say them for teardown and inspection again in France. Three months later, the FIA confirmed the motors are authorized and their end will stand.
João Monteiro and South Racing Can-Am filed the protest on 17 January, claiming Guthrie and Gutiérrez initially had bearings of their engines comprised of composite materials in violation of FIA guidelines. The allegation got here on the heels of Taurus drivers Eryk Goczał and his uncle Michał Goczał being disqualified for utilizing such materials of their clutches, which is forbidden underneath Article 2.3 of the FIA Worldwide Sporting Code’s Appendix J, Article 286.
Throughout a listening to on 3 April, the FIA’s Technical Delegate clarified this restriction doesn’t apply to engine bearings. The decision got here down throughout the BP Final Rally-Raid, by the way received by Monteiro within the SSV class.
“We’ll proceed down the identical path we’ve got been following, by no means ceasing to develop probably the most environment friendly automotive within the Problem class market, the lightest, the one with the bottom upkeep price, with the potential for any driver, whatever the workforce, to be as aggressive as their skills show,” concludes an announcement from Taurus, a joint collaboration between MCE-5 Improvement and Wevers Sport.
Taurus got here underneath scrutiny following the Goczałs’ disqualifications; the family-run EnergyLandia Rally Crew had received all six phases previous to their penalties with 5 by Eryk and one by father Marek. Eryk insisted his clutch was permitted and didn’t present him with an unfair benefit, whereas Taurus subsequently apologised for a “misinterpretation of the technical rules” by the workforce.
After the race, Monteiro made a protest towards Guthrie and Taurus allies Dania Akeel and Nicolás Cavigliasso to see if their clutches had been authorized. The FIA discovered no wrongdoing in these investigations.
Gutiérrez scored a stage win en path to turning into the second lady to win a Dakar general, whereas Guthrie claimed three legs. Taurus added 4 consecutive stage victories courtesy of Cavigliasso and Marcelo Gastaldi to shut out the rally
