World's Most Prominent Rally Race, Dakar Debuts New 'Ethanol' Category in 2010 with...

World's Most Prominent Rally Race, Dakar Debuts New 'Ethanol' Category in 2010
with Support from Brazil's Sugarcane Industry

SAO PAULO, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in its 31-year
history, the world's largest rally competition, formerly known as Paris-Dakar,
will include in its 2010 edition a category in which competing vehicles will
run on ethanol. The new category was introduced by the organizers at the
request of Brazilian rally veteran and former Paris-Dakar winner Klever
Kolberg, who will drive the first-ever flex-fuel vehicle to take part in the
prestigious race next year -- a Brazilian-made 2010 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
model equipped with flex-fuel technology, with support from the Brazilian
Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA).
Kolberg, who finished first in the 1993 competition in the "marathon
motorcycles" category, appropriately launched his 2010 renewable fuel effort
at the world's largest fair dedicated to the sugar-energy industry, the annual
Fenasucro, held in the town of Sertaozinho in the Brazilian state of Sao
Paulo, the heart of Brazil's sugarcane industry. After a news conference at
the UNICA booth, Kolberg held a one-hour autograph-signing session next to one
of his training vehicles, on exhibit during the four-day event.
"Professional sport has always been aligned with the business world and
sustainability has been at the top of the agenda for quite some time. Today it
is easier to get to any part of the world, and the Rally Dakar is proof of
that. The question is what fuel will we use, and if we choose clean energy,
the world thanks us," said Kolberg, who was also the first Brazilian ever to
face the challenges of the Paris-Dakar race in 1988, when it was held mostly
in Africa.
"I left behind a comfortable situation, in which my previous rally team
was widely supported, to pursue this project which I believe will be extremely
important for the sport and the Dakar itself, given its worldwide presence.
And I'm receiving a great deal of support from competitors who want the
Ethanol Category to be a success," adds Kolberg.
There is special meaning in supporting Kolberg's effort according to UNICA
President, Marcos Jank. "Ethanol is already utilized by the Indy Racing
League, which is one of the most important racing categories in the world, and
it is being adopted by a variety of categories here in Brazil and around the
world. It is certainly significant to see that trend now arriving also at the
Dakar, without a doubt one of the great events of its kind in the globe," he
said.
Choosing ethanol for a challenge of the Dakar Rally's magnitude also makes
sense from a technical point of view, according to UNICA's technology and
emissions expert, Alfred Szwarc: "A rally race demands performance, toughness
and reliability from a vehicle if it is to get to the finish line and be
competitive, and flex-fuel technology is certainly capable of meeting these
challenges with clear advantages over gasoline or diesel, especially from a
sustainability perspective."
First introduced in 2003, flex-fuel vehicles have become a resounding
success in Brazil. In the first six months of 2009, flex models accounted for
93% of all new light vehicle sales. Cars equipped with flex technology run on
pure ethanol, gasoline or any combination of the two. Currently, eleven
automakers produced close to 70 flex-fuel models in Brazil: Citroen, Fiat,
Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota and
Volkswagen.
New continent, new circuit
The 2010 Dakar will be held in Argentina and Chile, with the start set for
January 1st in Buenos Aires. In 2008, a day before the start of that year's
event from Lisbon, the competition was cancelled because of security risks in
Mauritania, where four French tourists had been murdered. Renamed Dakar, it
has since been run in South America. The event currently attracts more than
500 vehicles, including cars, SUVs, motorcycles and trucks.
Related links
2010 Dakar official site
www.dakar.com

Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA)
http://english.unica.com.br

Pictures
Use the links below to download pictures of Klever Kolberg and the vehicle
he will use at the 2010 Dakar Rally, the Mitsubishi Sport Flex:
http://www.unica.com.br/downloads/fotos/etanol00.jpg
http://www.unica.com.br/downloads/fotos/etanol01.jpg
http://www.unica.com.br/downloads/fotos/etanol02.jpg
http://www.unica.com.br/downloads/fotos/etanol03.jpg
http://www.unica.com.br/downloads/fotos/etanol04.jpg

ABOUT UNICA
The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) represents the top
producers of sugar and ethanol in the country's South-Central region,
especially the state of Sao Paulo, which accounts for about 50% of the
country's sugarcane harvest and 60% of total ethanol production. UNICA
develops position papers, statistics and specific research in support of
Brazil's sugar, ethanol and bioelectricity sectors. In 2008, Brazil produced
an estimated 565 million metric tons of sugarcane, which yielded 31.3 million
tons of sugar and 25.7 billion liters (6.8 billion gallons) of ethanol.
MORE INFORMATION:
CDN Corporate Communications - Sao Paulo, Brazil
Rosa Webster - (5511) 3643 2707 / rosa.webster@cdn.com.br
Mariane dos Santos - (5511) 3643 2730 / mariane.santos@cdn.com.br

SOURCE Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA)

CDN Corporate Communications, Rosa Webster, +011-5511-3643-2707,
rosa.webster@cdn.com.br, or Mariane dos Santos, +011-5511-3643-2730,
mariane.santos@cdn.com.br, for UNICA