Snippets from Volkswagen bivouacSchnitzel in the cockpit: "Schnitzel” – that's the lettering on the co- driver's side of the Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 driven by Giniel de Villiers.
"My foreign colleagues had problems pronouncing my name,” explained co-driver Dirk
von Zitzewitz. "At some point, Schniiietzewitz turned into Schnitzel, which is probably the only German word that Giniel, Carlos and Mark know. Of course the nickname then stuck with me.”
Wings for life: On the rear fenders of the Race Touareg the Volkswagen factory team promotes "Wings for life."
This is a non-profit foundation established by the former Austrian motocross driver and KTM sports manager Heinz Kinigadner. He was supported in this initiative by Dietrich Mateschitz whose company Red Bull has been a partner of Volkswagen's on the Race Touareg straight from the start.
The foundation that was initiated by Kinigadner after a family member suffered a serious accident has the purpose of supporting and promoting innovative, top- calibre research aimed at stimulating the regeneration of the spinal marrow.
Three questions to catering specialist Mireille André
What kind of meals are being served to Volkswagen Motorsport during the Dakar Rally?
"Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served buffet-style by the organisers in the bivouac. I take care of the snacks in between or provide meals when the team works long hours at night and the mechanics cannot go to the bivouac.
”
What was the team's favourite food?
"Small turkey salamis from Mecklenburg, for instance, we had 100 kilograms of those with us and they're all gone. Another thing that pleased most of the team members a lot was hot dogs and sand-cake. And coffee galore …”
What type of food is being taken along from Germany and what do you buy while you're on the road?
"Beverages we buy along the way. Almost all the food was taken along from Germany and transported across the entire rally route. Merely in Morocco did we buy apples, bananas and eggs. Later, in Mauritania and Mali, there was only little fresh fruit available on the markets.”
Volkswagen Motorsport
