KEY POINTS:
Spaniard Carlos Sainz and his French co-driver Michel Perin clinched three stage victories for Volkswagen in a shakedown rally for January's Lisbon to Dakar endurance event.
The rally in the dune-covered regions around Dubai and Abu Dhabi offered the Race Touareg II team the final chance to test their car in conditions resembling those of the Dakar Rally in Mauritania.
The event covered 1518km and concludes Volkswagen's rally and testing programme for the 2007 Dakar.
The Race Touareg II is powered by a 2.5-litre turbodiesel.
Volkswagen motorsport director Kris Nissen said the car's performance was satisfying and there would now be a few intensive weeks during which all Volkswagen's competition cars would be prepared.
"After that, we'll be ready for the start to the Dakar Rally in January."
Early this year, the Race Touareg II achieved the best placing by a diesel in the Dakar, finishing second overall.
Volkswagen's general manager for New Zealand, Dean Sheed, said: "Naturally, we are hoping that it can go one step better this year and claim an overall victory.
"TDI diesel has proven to be the engine of choice for Touareg so far in New Zealand and we anticipate this to continue into the future."
