Browsing Racing & Rallying
Aleš Loprais presented a new revolutionary Dakar special. In addition, our InstaForex Loprais Team connects with currently the most successful Czech truck racing MKR Technology Team. The goal is clear – to conquer together the famous Dakar Rally and before it the Russian “Silk Way Rally”.
“The North Bohemia MKR Technology Team of designer Mario Kress designs the drive unit exactly according to our ideas. I am very happy that after two years of establishing the cooperation is the project for our Tatra-Queen realized.”
“The heart of vehicle is essential for long-distance competitions. The performance level is moving us into another dimension of our biggest rivals like Kamaz or Iveco. The new engine is also more environmentally friendly, which is the increasingly pursued aspect on the Dakar Rally,” said happily Ales Loprais, the rally car driver.
The new special will be called “Queen 69 – EVO II” and is based on the type designation of Tatra Jamal. “The Queen” is more powerful and lighter in comparison with the previous generation and emphasis on improved aerodynamics.
This desert giant will be fitted with a new six-cylinder “MKR Powertrain Rally Edition” unit with a capacity of 12,8 liters and output of 920 hp with a torque of 4200 Nm. This unit will come from the technological centre of Kress’s team in Židovice near Roudnice.
“It should be noted that this engine would have completely different parameters that the one used on circuits. There are completely different conditions on the Dakar Rally. It will be another extreme but it’s more of a challenge for us all. We intend to build an engine directly for Ales Tatra and we will try to help Aleš to get to the very top of this world famous competition,” said about the project Mario Kress, the German designer and owner of the MKR Technology Team.
The another absolute novelty on the revolutionary Tatra are special shock absorbers that is Loprais developing in association with the Slovak producer under the newly created Loprais FRT shock absorbers brand.
InstaForex Loprais Team with the new truck intends to participate in two major marathon races – the Silk Way Rally in Russia and the Dakar Rally 2014 in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.
“Our new weapon hit the first “shake down” in the second half of May. The first tests, vehicle setting, presentation to media and our advertising partners, without whom we could not realize the birth of the Queen 69, are waiting. In June we are planning the comparison test of the old and the new generation of truck on the one identical track. I am really looking forward this fight,” said Aleš Loprais
2013/04/10 | 10:27 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/HOUTHOOFDTOVA
Aleš Loprais presented a new revolutionary Dakar special. In addition, our InstaForex Loprais Team connects with currently the most successful Czech truck racing MKR Technology Team. The goal is clear – to conquer together the famous Dakar Rally and before it the 2013 Russian “Silk Way Rally”.
“The North Bohemia MKR Technology Team of designer Mario Kress designs the drive unit exactly according to our ideas. I am very happy that after two years of establishing the cooperation is the project for our Tatra-Queen realized.”
“The heart of vehicle is essential for long-distance competitions. The performance level is moving us into another dimension of our biggest rivals like Kamaz or Iveco. The new engine is also more environmentally friendly, which is the increasingly pursued aspect on the Dakar Rally,” said happily Ales Loprais, the rally car driver.
The new special will be called “Queen 69 – EVO II” and is based on the type designation of Tatra Jamal. “The Queen” is more powerful and lighter in comparison with the previous generation and emphasis on improved aerodynamics.
This desert giant will be fitted with a new six-cylinder “MKR Powertrain Rally Edition” unit with a capacity of 12,8 liters and output of 920 hp with a torque of 4200 Nm. This unit will come from the technological centre of Kress’s team in Židovice near Roudnice.
“It should be noted that this engine would have completely different parameters that the one used on circuits. There are completely different conditions on the Dakar Rally. It will be another extreme but it’s more of a challenge for us all. We intend to build an engine directly for Ales Tatra and we will try to help Aleš to get to the very top of this world famous competition,” said about the project Mario Kress, the German designer and owner of the MKR Technology Team.
The another absolute novelty on the revolutionary Tatra are special shock absorbers that is Loprais developing in association with the Slovak producer under the newly created Loprais FRT shock absorbers brand.
InstaForex Loprais Team with the new truck intends to participate in two major marathon races – the Silk Way Rally in Russia and the Dakar Rally 2014 in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.
“Our new weapon hit the first “shake down” in the second half of May. The first tests, vehicle setting, presentation to media and our advertising partners, without whom we could not realize the birth of the Queen 69, are waiting. In June we are planning the comparison test of the old and the new generation of truck on the one identical track. I am really looking forward this fight,” said Aleš Loprais
2013/04/10 | 10:27 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/HOUTHOOFDTOVA
June 5th, 2013
May 4th, 2013
The Czech “Order of Laurel” Award, that is awarded by the Czech Chamber of Commerce, set during its last year premiere a goal to appreciate the important personalities of the local society.
Searching and highlighting exceptional representatives from various areas of human activity natural moral authority and patterns is one of the irreplaceable conditions of function of the advanced society.
The Order of Laurel has also one significant specify. Every citizen of the Czech Republic has the opportunity to nominate candidates for award. The jury of the Order of Laurel, which is composed of personalities, then selected 26 nominees for award levels.
Czech Dakar-Legend and former Tatra-pilot Karel Loprais was one of the nominees for the Order of Laurel for 2013. He personally collected the award – the golden Order of Laurel on 3rd April 2013 in the Bohemia Grand hotel in Prague.
The president of the Chamber of Commerce awarded significant businessmen, leading experts and other social-wide significant people too. Among the awarded were for example Cardinal Dominik Duka, Jirí Bartoška, the actor and Dana Drábová, the chairman of the State Office for Nuclear Safety.
Among the first laureates of the award belong also Bohdan Pomahac, the plastic surgeon and Václav Moravec, the moderator of the Czech Republic. The single diamond award went to Meda Mládková, the art patron. Karel Loprais commented this event modestly: “There was a fantastic atmosphere there and it was an honor for me to be among such personalities.”
April 24th, 2013
February 22nd, 2013
Dakar Rally 2013: Tatra´s Loprais – “We really thank you for everything”.
The last speed trial offered a nice, wide and fast tracks. So the crews were not allowed to take a break in concentration. At the gates of Santiago a short racing circuit waited to the riders to entertain the audience. Racers could perform in a variety of jumps and drifts. But it was just a starter for the closing ceremony.
But do not anticipate. The crew number 503 and the Czech Loprais Tatra even in the last stage held between the best and finished on the 4th place with the loss of 2:19. Versluis (MAN) won the stage, De Rooy (Iveco) was the second and Biason (Iveco) the third.
This means for the Tatra-crew in the final order the 6th place with the loss of 01:16:10 hours to the winner, Nikolaev (Kamaz) and hat-trick for Kamaz. Everyone from the team is tired, but healthy. “Maybe we feel little sadness, that we stayed for so long in the sixth place and could not coax the Tatra to move in the most precious medal places” Loprais said.
The whole competition Ales Loprais and his codrivers Radim and Serge and also all the mechanics and support fought on the track for every single minute and also with all the pitfalls bravely and with pride. They tried to cut the almost 2 hours loss from the 5th stage and did not stop believing, even though the old Tatra was little stubborn.
“This years performance leaves no doubt about the fact, that on “Silk Way Rally” and Dakar 2014 will “InstaForex Loprais Team” with the Racetruck attack the victory” the team reported after the race.
Watch with us the podium finish, the trucks will get on the podium at 14:04 local time, our crew about 16:00 local time. We are preparing for you report from this unbelievable fan base with an awesome atmosphere, that can not be describe by any words. We are saying goodbye by wishing you calm Sunday and by message from Ales Loprais: “Once again we really thank you for everything!”
2013/01/21 | 19:59 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/HOUTHOOFDTOVA
January 22nd, 2013
The 2013 edition saw the comeback of the Kamazs, which took their 11th win and, most importantly, pulled off a stunning 1-2-3 in Santiago with Russians Eduard Nikolaev, Ayrat Mardeev and Andrey Karginov! A nice gift for Vladimir Chagin in his first year as team manager. But the race wasn’t dyed in the same deep blue hue as it was during the Tsar’s reign. Champion Nikolaev was the first truck driver in the history of the rally to win the race without taking any stages and, all in all, the Russian juggernauts only won four, with defending champion Gerard de Rooy taking six. There’s no doubt he was the fastest man on the course, but a broken turbo in the 9th stage put paid to his hopes. He lost an hour and was unable to claw it back, finishing in fourth place, 4′19″ from the podium and just ahead of the two ageing Tatras driven by Martin Kolomý and especially Aleš Loprais, his only rival in the early stages and ephemeral leader after stage 4, before a failing battery dashed his dreams of fighting for the top honours the very next day.
January 20th, 2013
Eduard Nikolaev, Ayrat Mardeev and Andrey Karginov. A podium with a deep hue of Kamaz Master’s colours. Just under 38 minutes separate the Top 3 at the end of the 2013 Dakar. Gerard de Rooy was the best Team Iveco driver, missing the podium by less than four minutes. Martin Kolomy and Ales Loprais (Tatra) finished fifth and sixth, ahead of Pieter Versluis and Marcel van Vliet (Man).
January 19th, 2013
With Kamaz drivers the top 3 in the overall standings, it seems clear that Kamaz will win the 2013 Dakar. De Rooij however, will try to finish on the podium and with just 5 min behind Mardeev and the third Kamaz, it is a possibility, though in the past the Kamaz team strategy of slowing down other competitors to help threatened Kamaz competitors, did the job. Karginov would be the ideal candidate to slow down de Rooij.
With the Tatras currently 5th and 6th overall, Loprais will probably try to make up the 15 min he is behind the surprising Martin Kolomy, to become the best Tatra driver. Kolomy, on the other hand, would like to shine himself as the best Tatra driver.
January 19th, 2013
19.1.2013
NEWSLETTER INSTAFOREX LOPRAIS TEAM
Bronze in the penultimate stage
13th stage: Copiapó – La Serena
Friday 18 January
The connecting section: 294 km
The speed trial: 441 km
The initial segment of the stage in the Camanchaca area was steep; it was necessary to climb to a height of 2600 meters above sea level. After descending the slopes to the valley the last Dakar san dunes were waiting for the riders. Third of the stage led along sandy track where it was possible to attack. Last place of bivouac for riders and their accompaniment became the La Serena City.
In the penultimate stage win Karginov, the second was De Rooy with the loss of 2:48. Aleš managed to keep the pace and to attack, he was satisfied with the third place (the loss of 8:04): “It was a nice stage. The whole first five went really fast. Start turned out well, even though sometimes the lack of power was seen, particularly in long passages uphill compared to Kamaz and Iveco, but we are accustomed to it with the Princess. Bronze is for her a decent placement. So Full Attack again tomorrow!”
In the overall ranking the top three places receive the Russians, so a hat trick form the Kamaz Team. The fourth is De Rooy, Martin Kolomý is fifth. The crew number 503 and the Princess 69 are sixth. The difference between the Czech riders is about 15 minutes.
Link photogallery: http://loprais.cz/dakar/cz/fotogalerie/39-dakar-2013
14th stage: La Serena – Santiago
Saturday 19 January
Comfort and amusement in the capital city
The connecting section: 502 km
The speed trial: 128 km
Finish of this year Dakar Rally is in the capital city of Chile. To saw it the racers must not let up in concentration. Last speed trial offers a nice, fast tracks, where it will go fast. In the finish is prepared a short racing circuit for entertain the audience. Riders will be able to showcase the various jumps and drifts. It will be figuratively starter for the final ceremony, which is scheduled for the following day. The venue – Plaza de la Constitución.
Today is planned the final stage. Have a nice Saturday. We say goodbye with the words of Karel Loprais who never forgets to add: “The Dakar Rally goes up to the last kilometre of the last stage, the last second!”
Lucie Houthoofdtová
January 19th, 2013
Austrians Johann Kofler and Gery Hofer at the 2013 Planai Classic
http://herrenfahrer.com/post/view/id/527#.UPnraR38LxA
January 19th, 2013
