Wreathed in dust, 3.2-litre turbocharged engine growling loudly, huge Michelin tyres scrabbling for grip, the Ocelot attacks a steep, rutted, stony track that looks like the toughest section of a rally special stage. It treats it with disdain, seconds later surging over the crest, heading for the next challenge.
But this isn't a rally car as you know it; the four-wheel drive, four-wheel steer Ocelot is a prototype military vehicle like no other - designed and developed by a team that includes former World Rally Championship, McLaren F1, and BMW engineers.
The Ocelot is competing for a £100 million overall contract for 200 vehicles to meet the Ministry of Defence's Light Protected Patrol Vehicle requirements.
But as well as its explosive blast resistance, it must withstand being pounded across deserts and through mud that would make a hippo hesitate.
It also has to be highly manoeuvrable with good handling at speeds up to at least 75mph - which is why the project needs the skills of Roland Jacob-Lloyd, former chief engineer of the Mitsubishi World Rally Championship team and now holding a similar job with the Ocelot project: "Some of the lessons we learned when rallying have certainly been applied to Ocelot - although it's not quite a rally car!"
Designed in England by Force Protection Europe and technology specialist Ricardo, its detachable, lightweight but ballistics-resistant six-seat occupant pod - the design and development team for which ex-McLaren composite materials specialist Mike Coughlan was a leader - can be exchanged for other configurations, turning the vehicle into an ambulance or truck.
Reproduced from www.telegraph.co.uk
