The Quote Challenge

In our quest for news about the secretly held Challenge 2007 we found out some nice news about the Bugatti Veyron and future models of the French-VW-owned supercar manufacturer. First of all Motor Authority reports that Bugatti is working on a second model after all. Back in July of this year VW’s CEO Martin Winterkorn send the smaller Bugatti project to the trashcan but apparently Bugatti made Volkswagen change their mind.

Our friends from Autogespot add that Bugatti is also working hard on the convertible version of the Bugatti Veyron. They hint at the last episode of Fifth Gear, where Tiff Needell visits the Bugatti factory in Molsheim and is not allowed to film a certain car in the factory. A Veyron owner supports this by stating he’s expecting the Bugatti Veyron Spider he ordered, one of only 80 Spiders that will be build, to arrive in 2009.

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The 6th edition of the Quote Challenge is crossing Europe this week. Although Quote resigned as main sponsor after the 2005 rally most people still remember the Quote Challenge by the name of it’s predecessor. This year organiser Sjoerd van Stokkum aimed for the best of the best with ‘The Ultimate Edition’. 30 teams driving exotic supercars started in Germany last weekend and made their way through Eastern Europe. The start location was kept a closely guarded secret until the very last moment. The Challenge is the second rally this year, and thereby follows the Cannonball Run Europe, to run without stickers.

The start of the Challenge 2007 was last weekend at the Kempinski Hotel Heiligendamm in Germany, from there it was autobahn most of the way to the capital of the Czech Republic: Prague. Monday the Challengers continued to Bratislava for lunch and finished the day in Budapest. Budapest is host to the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix and therefore a visit to the Hungaroring circuit couldn’t be skipped. We visited this track during the Top Run earlier this year and it’s definitely our favourite track in central Europe. After some time on the track the Challengers followed in our skidmarks and drove from the Hungaroring to Zagreb. Between Budapest and Zagreb you will find some of the worlds finest highways with very little traffic.

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With the Challenge 2006 slowly fading away in our short term memory it’s time to show you some of the highlights of this years Challenge rally caught on camera by Herbert van Kuik.

Willem-Alexander & Maxima arriving in Vilnius:

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The visitors of GT spirit have chosen Team Miami Vice as their favorite team of the Challenge 2006! With 16% of the votes they are 8 votes ahead of runner up Team Pussywagon. Followed by a good third, Team Leo de Vries with 13% of the votes.

Final Results:

1. Miami Vice (Lambo): 16% (146)
2. Pussywagon (H2): 15% (138)
3. Leo de Vries (S4): 13% (115)
4. Ferrari Racing (F430): 7% (68)
5. Spyker Squadron (C8): 7% (64)
6. Call TV (X5): 7% (62)
7. Maybach 62: 4% (41)
8. Dakar (Q7): 4% (34)
9. Bert & Ernie (997 4S): 3% (31)
10. The Matrix (CL55): 3% (23)
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Today is your last chance to vote for your favorite team of the Challenge 2006. With almost 900 votes it’s one of the most popular polls ever on GT spirit.

Current Top 10:

1. Miami Vice (Lambo): 16% (142)
2. Pussywagon (H2): 15% (136)
3. Leo de Vries (S4): 13% (114)
4. Ferrari Racing (F430): 8% (68)
5. Call TV (X5): 7% (62)
6. Spyker Squadron (C8): 7% (59)
7. Maybach 62: 5% (41)
8. Dakar (Q7): 4% (34)
9. Bert & Ernie (997 4S): 3% (30)
10. The Matrix (CL55): 3% (23)

Poll will be closed tonight!

Quote reports that Team Spyker Squadron and Team The Matrix returned to Amsterdam after 7 days of driving and partying. In seven days they driven through nine countries and partied in cities like Dresden, Tallinn, St Petersburg and Copenhagen!

Quote also published a video of the start in Dresden including some footage of the first leg to Sopot.

Just a reminder: you have three more days to vote for your favorite Challenge 2006 team in our poll!

Team Indianen in their Porsche GT3 RS won this years Challenge trophy for their great outfit and car. They were one of only a handful teams that wore the outfits the whole week. Congratulations!

Saskia of Team Batmobile won a bottle of champagne for being the most sexy challenger. Team Politbureau won a bottle for hiring a Maybach 62 with a driver to get them from party to party. Team Bob & Annie de Rooy won a bottle of champagne as one of the die-hards of this years rally. After a night waiting at the german-polish border they crossed through Poland and made it to the checkpoint in Lithuania before most others that were one day ahead did.

The Challengers finished in Copenhagen this afternoon. Team 16 was amazed when they arrived first in Copenhagen. They were closely followed by team 11 in their BMW 530D. Team Ferrari Racing was pulled over just kilometers outside Copenhagen but were free to go after a chat. The playmates hitched hiked their way from St Petersburg to Copenhagen with different teams and are sad it’s over. Tonight the Challengers take the time to share their great stories and have one last party and return homewards to wait another year for another Challenge.

Finish Photos:

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Today is the finish of The Challenge 2006. The drivers left Stockholm this morning and are now heading towards the finish in Copenhagen. The drivers will arrive at the Marriott hotel between 3.30 and 5.30 pm. After that there will be a dinner and party in the centre of Copenhagen. GTspirit will be there to bring the latest updates and first hand stories from the drivers.

Stay tuned!

With one more day to go for the Challengers there are three teams far ahead of the others in the poll. Team Leo de Vries is currently in the lead but Team Pussywagon and Team Miami Vice are just 1 and 5 votes behind. Can they catch up? We will announce the final winners of the Challenge 2006 poll next thursday so you have 6 more days to vote for your favorite team! Team Leo de Vries is determined to win this one by giving away a free Louis Vuitton bag to one of the people that vote for them and become member of their hyve.

Favorite Team in The Challenge 2006:

Top 3:

1.) Leo de Vries (S4): 17% (92 votes)
2.) Pussywagon (H2): 17% (91 votes)
3.) Miami Vice (Lambo): 16% (87 votes)
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Herbert van Kuik of Team The Matrix just reported that all teams arrived at the ferry in Helsinki. The cars got a police escort from the Russian / Finnish border to ensure a safe travel to Helsinki. Tonight there will only be a small party on the ferry and tomorrow morning the Challenge enters Sweden in Stockholm for the last day of this years Challenge.

Today the Challengers are heading for Helsinki. From Helsinki they will take the overnight ferry to Stockholm where they will begin their last like to the final destination of this years Challenge!