The race vehicle will be driven by Mr. Hiroshi Masuoka of MMC who won the Dakar Rally two years in succession in 2002 and 2003. Mr. Masuoka also will be playing a role as the team captain. The team competing in the Baja Portalegre challenge mainly is constructed and led by MMC personnel including the team manager and technical director Mr. Yasuo Tanaka, Expert from EV Component Research Department, Development Engineering Office and engineering supports by four engineers from his department.
Since its inception in 1987, the Baja Portalegre 500, which celebrates its 29th edition this year, is a cross-country rally organized by the Portuguese Automobile Association. Contestants will be driving approximately 500 kilometers mainly at the high speed over rather flat but dirt roads. The course provides the arena for the 9th Round of the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup and is known as an event in which rally aces from over the world participate each year as a warm-up to the Dakar Rally, the world's most punishing event of its type. This competition is organized in three categories - automobile, motor bike and quad – with over 300 vehicles expected to take part.
Based on the production model but with modifications required for a rally car, the Outlander PHEV has been entered by MMC to promote development of EV and 4WD technologies. It uses the production model's drive battery – which forms the heart of a plug-in hybrid vehicle – but with modifications to its structure to realize greater capacity and output. The control system governing the motors has been modified to deliver a higher output. In addition, the generator and engine which supply power to the battery and motors have been modified to increase power output and boost overall system performance.
As to the body, in addition to the fitting of a roll cage and other safety equipment, off-road performance has been improved in order to take full advantage of the upgraded PHEV system. Detail changes include a higher ground clearance and longer suspension stroke together with larger diameter rally tires. These changes will enhance the Outlander PHEV's performance limits under punishing rally conditions and the valuable data gathered during the event will be fed back into the development of production cars.
In addition to the Baja Portalegre 500, MMC will be providing support, as it has done in 2013 and 2014, in the form of vehicle construction, vehicle provision and an engineering team to the Two & Four Motor Sports team which is entering an Outlander PHEV in the FIA Asia Cross Country Rally 2015 slated to be held from August 8 through August 14, starting in Thailand.
The Asia Cross Country Rally 2015 celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Entrants will have to compete over a punishing 2,500km and mountainous route which starts and finishes in the ancient city of Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand. For this event where the same specification Outlander PHEV competing in the Baja Partalegre 500 will be used, the Two & Four Motor Sports team will be aiming to have finish among the winners, on the back of knowhow gained in the last two years.
