As the Prodrive Hunter’s powerful, turbo-charged V6 engine roared into action, GDN journalist Mai Al-Khatib Camille could hardly contain her excitement.
“This is going to be a dream come true,” she exclaimed, as a Bahrain Raid Xtreme (BRX) technician made sure she was strapped in securely in the Hunter’s passenger seat.
The Hunter, a custom-built rally car was specially designed for BRX, a partnership between the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, and the world-leading motorsport company, Prodrive – who built the car.
Camille was among a series of invited guests who would become ‘co-drivers’ to accompany nine-time World Rally champion, Sebastien Loeb, on short rides around a specially-marked course near Bahrain’s historic Tree of Life. The purpose: to demonstrate the power and manoeuvrability of the Hunter.
Loeb, who drove the Hunter to a runner-up finish in the 2022 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, gave the thumbs-up signal to Camille to indicate that he was about to start. The journalist responded in kind, before looking around at the assembled guests and technicians.
“Wish me luck, folks,” she yelled over the sound of the engine.
The Hunter drove slowly to a starting point, then accelerated suddenly, a plume of thick dust trailing behind it as it disappeared from view behind a sand dune, then appeared on the other side. Some of the guests, next in line for their rides, tittered audibly as the Hunter appeared to be silhouetted briefly in mid-air against a blue sky backdrop when it launched itself into the air off another dune.
David Richards, Prodrive co-founder and chairman, watched as Loeb floored the pedal. “No matter how long one has been in this business, it’s always a thrill to watch one of our creations in action,” said Richards, whose company designs, constructs and races cars for companies and teams such as VW, MINI and Aston Martin.
“This is a very special vehicle,” he added. “It was a very big engineering project with the vehicle being built specially for the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, which is more than 8,500 kilometres long.”
Only three Hunters exist at the moment, Richards said, with more in development. As he spoke, the Hunter roared back to its canopy and the BRX technicians hastened over to the vehicle to assist Camille out of the vehicle.
“That was epic!” she screamed, helmet still on, once she was out of the car. “We did two laps around that track and the car touched 170kph! My adrenaline is still pumping. But Sebastien was so cool and completely in control. I don’t know how he does it!”
As he waited for the next guest to change into a protective suit, Loeb took a minute to reflect on his record-breaking career. Originally a gymnast, the 47-year-old Frenchman, considered the ‘greatest racing driver of all time’, switched to rally car racing in his early twenties. He has since racked up nine World Rally Championship (WRC) wins and countless other victories.
“I don’t really focus on, or count, my trophies,” Loeb said, modestly. “I’m happy that I’m still living for my passion and still driving cars like these. That’s all that matters to me.”
Behind him, the BRX team was giving the Hunter the once-over. But this was just a routine check, unlike the procedure they had followed over the past few days at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) when they completely rebuilt the Hunter in preparation for the upcoming Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, part of the inaugural FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, in March.
His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, visited the BIC on Tuesday to witness the Hunter in action, once it had been rebuilt, at the invitation of the BRX team and Mumtalakat. He noted the partnership between the sovereign wealth fund and Prodrive and the importance of the partnership to the BRX team’s successes in rallying.
“Two years ago, we had a vision and a mission when we established our partnership and, today, here we are, celebrating the team’s achievements,” Mumtalakat CEO Khalid Al Rumaihi said. “In addition to building an exceptional racing car and a great team, this partnership presents the opportunity to further diversify the economy of the kingdom within the technology industries field, create employment, enhance local expertise and raise the profile of Bahrain as a centre of technological excellence in the region.”
Meanwhile, as the BRX technicians finished their inspection of the Hunter, the next ‘co-driver’ appeared: Radio Bahrain general manager Imran Al Aradi. “They managed to find a suit big enough for me,” Al Aradi, a tall, well-built man, quipped. “Let’s see how they manage to fit my big frame into that tiny space in the car.”
The Hunter’s engine was idling now, as Loeb put on his helmet. The car runs on sustainable fuel used by BRX which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent compared to petrol because it is made from agricultural waste material.
By using it during the Dakar Rally, the team’s three cars saved more than 28 tonnes of CO2 emissions. BRX aims to demonstrate that such fuels can be used as an alternative to petrol and diesel in road transport and immediately make a contribution to fighting climate change.
Loeb, by now, was in the driver’s seat but there was a brief struggle taking place next to him as Al Aradi squirmed and twisted his way into the space afforded by the passenger seat. Once he was in place, the Hunter zoomed off again.
A few minutes later, the car returned to a few minutes of hilarity: Al Aradi, a jovial character, laughed and joked when he required the assistance of a BRX technician to extricate himself from the confines of the car.
“If you think this is funny, imagine how Sebastien felt when, at a speed of about 170 kph, I suddenly pointed to a man some distance away – and not even in our way – and screamed: ‘Watch out for that man!’” he laughed. Behind him, even Loeb saw the humour in the situation, his eyes crinkling as he smiled.
Loeb has a busy few months ahead with the BRX team. After the rally in the UAE, the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship moves on to rounds in Kazakhstan (April 24-30), Spain (June 6-12) and Morocco (October 6-12).
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “After all, it’s what I love and what I do.”
Loeb, who has travelled to Bahrain for the first time, said he was grateful for the support he has received. “I see a lot of passion over here about what we are doing, about motorsport,” he said.
Al Aradi interjected just then. “Talking about passion, want to know how I felt after that ride,” he joked. “Like I was put in a blender, then tied to a yo-yo and yanked up and down and, finally, thrown a long distance at high speed!”
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