The Hunter was designed by Prodrive to win the Dakar Rally for BRX. A limited edition, all-terrain hypercar version is now being built to the individual specifications of buyers.
“We were delighted to offer these Bahraini engineering students the opportunity to have an insight into all the technology behind the Bahrain Raid Xtreme team,” said David Richards, Chairman of Prodrive.
“They were able to learn how we design, manufacture and run the BRX Hunter on the world’s toughest motorsport event, the Dakar. We have also confirmed that, when they finish their studies at university, we will consider those who are interested for a full time role within the team.”
Fareed Abusaqer, a mechanical engineer from Bahrain Polytechnic University, said, “Being in the heart of the Bahrain Raid Xtreme rally team is amazing.”
“I have designed a hand brake for the Hunter hypercar and received feedback from the engineers on where it was good, but also where it needed to be reinforced. I really want to do this as a career, and want to follow this high level prototype engineering through.”
The other Bahraini students who benefited enormously from the internships were Hasan Alasfoor and Mohamed Nader from the University of Bahrain, Salman Ahmed from the American University of Bahrain, and Jasim Althawadi, who studies at Bahrain Polytechnic University.
Knowledge transfer is a valued resource offered by the skilled workforce at Prodrive, who have won six FIA World Rally titles, six Le Mans 24 Hours titles, nine FIA World Sports Car titles and five British Touring Car titles.
The Bahraini students gained a wealth of experience in the UK. This included engine testing using the Prodrive dyno, which measures force, torque and power, and instruction in how hybrid power will be integrated with the sustainable fuel already used by the BRX Hunter in the WRRC.
They were involved in critical BRX planning meetings for the last two rounds of the WRRC, where the Hunter of nine-times World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb leads at the half way point.
They visited the Prodrive Composites facility in Milton Keynes, the famous Catesby Tunnel underground test facility for aerodynamics and vehicle performance, and the Milbrook automotive testing ground.
In a busy social programme they travelled to London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh, took part in clay pigeon shooting, and visited Shelsley Walsh, the world’s oldest motorsport race track.
