18-day 911 Off-Road Trek Highlights Tire Performance
A Porsche 911 Dakar recently undertook an extensive journey from Germany to Senegal, but this was no ordinary road trip. The specially equipped sports car embarked on a challenging rally-style drive, showcasing its capabilities on a diverse range of terrains and driving scenarios.
The 911 Dakar embarked on its journey from Porsche Zentrum Inntal in Rosenheim, Germany and traveled all the way to Dakar, the capital city of Senegal. This city shares the same name as the renowned Paris-Dakar Rally (although technically, the rally is named after the city). The expedition followed the trail of the Africa Eco Race, a challenging 12-stage rally that connected Nador in Morocco to the Pink Lake of Dakar, passing through Mauritania and Senegal. The entire trip lasted 18 days and covered a distance of 4,350 miles, which is nearly one thousand miles longer than the demanding London to Sydney Marathon that was commemorated by a specially modified 911 Dakar last year.
Even more notable was the fact that the individual steering the 911 Dakar wasn’t a seasoned endurance racer, but rather a fan of Porsche’s off-road capabilities. Despite this, they eagerly faced the daunting task of tackling partially paved roads, dirt trails, sandy stretches, and rugged rocky terrain. The journey itself spanned various landscapes and weather conditions, ranging from the frosty mountains of the Alps to the unpredictable desert climate, with temperature fluctuations of up to 86ºF in just half a day.
As remarkable as the driver was, the Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tires that originally equipped the 911 Dakar did not require replacement despite enduring a significant amount of wear during the extraordinary journey.The driver’s prowess aside, the Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tires on the 911 Dakar remained intact throughout the challenging road trip, showcasing their impressive durability.
According to Porsche Zentrum, “A unique adventure, which would have certainly been very complicated without such valid tires. They always behaved exceptionally, even in very different conditions.” This statement highlights the importance of reliable tires in making a challenging journey possible. Despite facing varying conditions, the tires performed exceptionally well, proving their worth and reliability.
Pirelli has a long-standing practice of creating high-performance tires for Porsche that can withstand harsh and challenging environments. As a stark contrast to the grueling conditions of a Dakar race, Pirelli historically provided studded Stella Bianca tires for prestigious models like the Porsche 550 Spyder and 356 Pre-A at the 2024 F.A.T. Ice Race in Zell am See. These vintage-inspired tires combine cutting-edge technology with a timeless design, providing classic sports cars with an authentic aesthetic while also ensuring optimal performance in wet or icy terrain.
If the 911 Dakar has caught your attention, you may find yourself let down knowing that all 2,500 units of this custom-made 911 have already been purchased. Nevertheless, there are alternative options available such as the air-cooled 911 Safari restomod conversions or the Kalmar’s more budget-friendly 911 Dakar build, which is based on the Porsche 996 model.
