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Dacia Lodgy ‘Glace’ poised for race debut

This weekend (December 3-4) will see Dacia Lodgy 'Glace' make its competition debut at the Val Thorens round of the 2011/2012 Trophée Andros. The car will be in the hands of the competition's two-time champion and two-time runner-up Alain Prost who is targeting a third title. His bid will be backed by the entry of a second car for his son Nicolas and the experienced Evens Stievenart.

After taking the Trophée Andros by surprise two years ago with Duster 'Glace', Dacia has made a big mark once again this season by entering Lodgy 'Glace', an ice-racing version of the Romanian carmaker's latest model which will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012.

It is the first time that an MPV has been entered for France's Trophée Andros ice-racing championship. The 2011/2012 series is due to kick off this weekend at Val Thorens where Dacia Lodgy Glace will get an opportunity to turn a wheel in anger on ice for the first time.

"Often when you bring out a new car for the Trophée Andros, the first opportunity you get to drive it on ice is at the first round, especially when the winter is late in coming, as it is this year," observes Alain Prost. "That said, we are not entirely starting from a clean sheet, since the new car's chassis is the same as the one we developed for Dacia Duster. The Duster was very competitive on good ice, but we were a little bit off the pace whenever the track surface was pitted with holes and portions of asphalt. It's for this reason that we worked to adapt the suspension for Dacia Lodgy Glace. We have also worked on the engine - notably its useful rev-band - and improved visibility on my car by fitting the roll-cage differently to suit my driving position. That will be the only difference between the Lodgy I will race and the car Nicolas and Evens will be sharing."

The circuit at Val Thorens is named after Alain Prost whose aim will be to provide Dacia Lodgy Glace with its maiden win out of the box. That said, the track conditions promise to play a significant role in the outcome, since there is no ice at the resort for the moment. "The weather is still warm and there is very little snow. However, the venue's owners are professionals and have been working hard for some weeks to get the track ready. The conditions won't be easy and we will have to adapt, but that will be a good test. It's in this sort of situation that the data which the team will be able to collect from two cars and three drivers will be a valuable bonus."

Indeed, to boost its challenge for the brand's first title, Team Dacia has chosen to run two cars this year. The highly-experienced Evens Stievenart will be joined in the second Lodgy Glace by Nicolas Prost who has already secured two Andros Électrique titles, although this will be his first season in a 335hp car with four-wheel steering.

"It will be a steep learning curve for me because I have only driven this sort of car on ice over a handful of laps. That was at the end of last season, in Dacia Duster," reports the son of the four-time F1 World Champion. "I will have a great deal to learn but I will do all I can to become competitive as quickly as possible in order to help my team. The feedback I get from my father and Evens will be extremely useful..."

Evens Stievenart made a name for himself by winning last season's finale at the Stade de France, Paris, in the Dacia Duster Glace he shared with Alain Prost. He, too, is eager for action to begin: "The Trophée Andros is a unique discipline and a real passion for me. It calls for a very technical driving style and meticulous set-up work, so you can never afford to rest on your laurels. Competing in the same Dacia team alongside Alain and Nicolas Prost will be a big challenge, but I know I will thoroughly enjoy the experience..."

After a private test session at Alpe d'Huez on Thursday, hostilities will kick off at Val Thorens on Friday, December 2, beginning with the first timed practice session. The season's first heat will then follow on Saturday (qualifying starts at 2:40pm), with the second on Sunday. Exact times may vary as a function of the weather conditions on the day.