The all-new 1000cc OT3 by Overdrive buggy is taking Side-by-Side racing to the next level in the world’s toughest cross-country rally races.
Photos Courtesy of Red Bull Content Pool/ Flavien Duhamel/ and Overdrive
Overdrive Racing has today revealed more details of its new rally machine, the OT3 by Overdrive, which is set to take the Side-by-Side class in the world’s toughest rally raid races to the next level.
The OT3 by Overdrive is a six-speed, 1000cc turbo vehicle that produces around 177 bhp and is the world’s first Side-by-Side high-performance prototype specifically designed for off-road racing. Side-by-side describes a special type of lightweight off-road buggy accommodating a driver and co-driver and is capable of taking the fight to much bigger vehicles.
Its carbon-fiber and Kevlar bodywork ensures an impressive power-to-weight ratio for drivers over the changing landscapes of off-road events, while the extended wheelbase of the vehicle also allows for greater stability, moving the center of gravity of the car raerwards to increase performance and balance.
The competitive debut for the new machine will be announced shortly.
Here are some more photos of the machine:
Cyril Despres, a five-time Dakar Rally winner in the motorbike class and two-time Silk Way Rally champion tested the OT3 in Morocco recently:
“The OT3 really surprised me, first of all with the stability of the vehicle, as the engineers played with the regulations to build a 2.08m wide vehicle, which gives a lot of stability. They also used their knowledge to make a really strong and rigid chassis, something which is normally missing from side-by-side buggies. It gives you precision when driving on technical sections, which is exactly what you need,” said Depres after the shakedown.
“The engine is powerful and the visibility from the cockpit is fantastic. I have to say, after a few days of driving there were no major issues, which is a bit of a surprise when you’re at the beginning of a project. Normally, you face some problems, but this wasn’t the case with the OT3. It’s a lot of fun to drive and after a few adjustments to the suspension everyone will have to watch out for the OT3 vehicle in forthcoming events.”
The Dakar Rally begins on January 3, 2021.
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