Day 1 | 30.04.2016: Just a temporary setback for our team

We had counted on our VW Passat (Rösli) to get us to the finish in Dalaman. But apparently it was a bit much to ask of her – to add around 8,000 km to her already 250,000 km on the clock – so much so that she decided to spare herself the ordeal in advance. A broken turbo and the resulting engine completely full of oil meant we could no longer continue. Even so, we managed to push Rösli all the way to Oberstaufen. What will become of her, we don’t yet know. We left her behind for the foreseeable future.

And so it remains a kind of amour fou that connects our team with Rösli. We chose her over the Audi and invested a lot in her: new timing belt, clutch, thermostat, water pump, radiator, brakes, new headlights. Until now, nothing had stood out in her biography: as one of five other cars, she was used by her owners for everyday errands. Now and then for a bit of shopping, and if she was lucky she got to tow a horse trailer too. Only after her transformation into a rally car did she sharpen her profile and gain charisma and personality. But even within our team she seemed to lack a certain following; it raised many eyebrows as to why Team Judo goes Orient was starting their journey with two BMWs and a VW rather than three BMWs. But as though simply accepting the transformation, Rösli gave herself over to this adventure. Right up until just before Oberstaufen.

On Friday we bought a new car on the spot, a Chrysler Voyager (Vroni), and immediately converted it in a makeshift fashion; we fitted a roof box and wired up the electrics. We even matched the colour a little to the other two cars. Nothing left to worry about then? – If only. One minute before the start she even locked herself in. Engine running, no one inside. Personalities are defined by their quirks. Vroni can’t quite fill the gap yet, but equally she could well become her moment – a vehicle from out of nowhere, that so far seems to want everything.