The Coronel Dakar Team will head for the 2025 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia with their new 4x4 Century CR7 T1+ supported by Carbon Positive Motorsport for the second time. Tom and Tim Coronel will compete in the rally's highest class against teams from Dacia, Ford, and Toyota.
The Coronel Dakar Team launched their Dakar bid this week with a presentation to fans, family, friends, and partners. Tim and Tom Coronel showed their new car for the first time: the 4x4 Century CR7 T1+ and also unveiled the Corotel, a driving race-hotel.
The team presentation welcomed fans and friends to the Coronel Adventure Indoor Klimpark in Huizen, where the new car was presented by Tim and Tom. After three years of driving the Century CR6, it was time for a serious upgrade. The new Century CR7, the successor to the CR6, has a new twin-turbo Audi engine, four-wheel drive, bigger wheels, and a higher suspension. “That should provide more speed and an even more stable car,” Tim says.
Tim has tested the car in South Africa. “I drove this car for two days. So it has four-wheel drive and the engine is now between us, so you notice that. The balance is so much better, it responds immediately when you steer, and it has much more grip. It’s a T1+, really the best of the best. It feels lighter while it’s heavier. The Dakar has become much more technical, and I think this is the right move at this time. Technology hasn’t stood still, this car is a big step forward.”
In addition to a new car for Tim and Tom, they are bringing another new vehicle to Saudi Arabia: the Corotel. Tom is pleased with its development, “It's a hotel on wheels. During the Dakar Rally, people still sleep a lot in tents, and that's not comfortable. The rally gets tougher every year, so good sleep is important. Almost all the top riders sleep in RVs for that reason. That's why we built the Corotel to enable a better night's sleep for every participant. In total, there are six rooms, three of which we use ourselves, and we rent out three of them.”
The Corotel is completely self-sufficient and carbon-neutral. “Together with our partners, we have made the Corotel completely green. We have solar panels and batteries on board for power and 1,200 litres of water on board. By installing economical showers, among other things, we use very little water. We can even use power from the Corotel to power our technical container. In addition, trees are planted for all the emissions we do, ensuring that our carbon footprint is completely offset. That is important now and in the future.”
Steve Smith, the founding Director of Carbon Positive Motorsport, said: "Once again, CPM is involved in the 2025 Dakar, collaborating with the Coronel Dakar Team. The event is quickly approaching, set to begin on January 3rd and run until January 17th, presenting a significant endurance challenge for both mind and body."
Carbon Positive Motorsport will offset the entire team's fuel consumption throughout the rally, covering Tom and Tim's CR7 T1+ Dakar rally car, the two support trucks, and the press car. CPM believes that it is a pioneering effort for a team to fully offset all fuel used during such a large event, with fuel consumption expected to exceed 7,000 litres of both racing fuel and diesel.
"We wish the drivers and the entire team a safe journey and an enjoyable and fun Dakar. They have a formidable challenge ahead, and we extend our best wishes to the Coronel Dakar Team," added Smith.
Tom Coronel is looking forward to the debut of the new car. With over three decades of experience in motorsport, Coronel is also focused on nurturing the career of his son, Rocco, a Red Bull junior driver. He emphasizes the importance of sustainability, stating, "I want him and everybody that loves motorsport to have a future in racing and living on this planet, which is why we have committed to offsetting the entire team and vehicles in 2025 through Carbon Positive Motorsport."
Tim Coronel added, "Working with CPM to offset gives us the chance to do what we love to do; race in the harshest environment on earth. We want to inform our partners and fans alike that we have to minimise our footprint, and so we went a step further; our Coretel assistance truck is off grid but fully solar powered, which also helps our other support truck to kill the generator as much as possible."
The Dakar Rally will visit Saudi Arabia for the sixth time, and from December 30, the start camp in Bisha will be accessible, where inspections will take place on January 1 and 2. On January 3, the first official kilometres will follow with a prologue, followed by the start podium. From Bisha, the rally will head north, then back south-east to the Empty Quarter, where the finish is in Shubaytah on January 17.
All the ingredients are present for an exciting Dakar Rally, with a mostly new route, some classic elements such as a marathon stage and a mass start, and some new innovations. At least 5 stages will have separate routes for bikes and cars, and the 48-hour stage has been extended to 950 kilometres, spread over two days.
Tim and Tom will start with number 237 on the doors of the Century CR7 in their ninth start on the Dakar Rally, with the goal to finish with a 15th to 20th position. The team will leave for the port of Barcelona on Tuesday to turn in all vehicles for the crossing to the Middle East.
Coronel Dakar Team is supported by: Carbon Positive Motorsport, LKQ, Era, Optimal Mascot Workwear, MPM, Eru, JBL, 4Brands, Efulfilment, BS Forklifts, Toolspecial, FEBO, KeukenWarenhuis, Serengeti, Hella, DHG, FMS, Brondool, ChassisParts, Apple King, SuperB, P1, Copernica
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