Dakar Rally expert, Spaniard Xavier Foj, won the T2 production class of the legendary rally in his Discoverer S/T MAXX-shod Toyota Land Cruiser 150.
Meanwhile, ex-Formula 1 driver and endurance rally veteran, Jean-Louis Schlesser, won his fourth consecutive Africa Eco Race, using Cooper’s Discoverer STT tyre for the first time.Schlesser and his co-driver Cyril Esquirol tackled 5,000km between Nador in Morocco and Kebemer in Senegal, finishing three hours ahead of their nearest rival. Schlesser said: “This year, the course was particularly hard and demanding. It was a beautiful victory and the weather did not help us, including three days of sand storms. I wish to thank my team, which did a great job and, of course, the partners who chose to trust me.”
The Discoverer STT features the company’s innovative Armor-Tek3 heavy-duty carcass, which delivers three plies of protection against impact damage. Meanwhile, an aggressive tread pattern optimizes traction on hard surfaces but also offers better grip on soft sand. Tapered stone ejectors will help prevent stones and debris lodging in the tread and a strategically-placed rim flange protector also helps protect the wheel and tyre from off-road hazards.
Meanwhile, Foj and his co-driver Jordi Cervantes tackled 9000km across in Argentina, Chile and Peru in the Dakar. Foj chose one of the toughest off-road tyres that Cooper manufactures: the Discoverer S/T MAXX, which will be introduced in Europe next month. Its compound and large tread area provides superior grip in all conditions while the alternating rib pattern will help with the discharge of loose stones. Cooper’s proven class-leading ArmorTek3 construction ensures strong durability, by delivering strength to the sidewall and tread area, a winning combination which will no doubt prove more than a match for the specialist compound tyres of their competitors.
The STT is available in a full range of sizes, from 15- to 18-inch rims while the S/T MAXX is M&S rated and available in sizes ranging from 16- to 18-inch. For your nearest stockist, visit www.coopertire.co.uk.
