The SXS are an exciting cross country rally category in its own right with stage times being very competitive with both Moto and full blown 4x4 Auto times.
While the main manufacturers currently involved in SXS racing in Australia are Polaris and Can Am, the all new 2012 Arctic Cat Wildcat 1000 has just been released in North America and has all the makings of a highly competitive off road racing platform.
The 2012 Arctic Cat Wildcat 1000i H.O. takes on all comers with the largest engine displacement and suspension travel yet seen on a production sport SXS. Arctic Cat says the machine was inspired by the Baja 1000, and it certainly looks the part of a high-performance race buggy. Aggressive bodywork and styling along with an exoskeleton chassis give the Wildcat a racy look, but it’s the massive suspension that points to serious off-road capacity. The rear setup utilizes a five-point multi-link trailing arm and enormous Walker Evans racing shocks with large piggyback oil reservoir. The shocks use two springs with separate tensions. This dual-rate setup is preload adjustable and the compression has 17 clicks of adjustability. Arctic Cat says the five-point multi-link design minimizes wheel camber and “axle plunge” which helps keep the tires flat against the ground for maximum traction and consistent control. It has 18 inches of travel ! The engine is a 951cc four-stroke. The V-Twin cylinder arrangement is single-overhead cam with fuel injection featuring 50mm throttle bodies. Unlike most SXS the Wildcat is equipped with electronic power steering standard.
Racing the Wildcat in Safari will be the Western Australia based team of G2 Rallye Racing. This will be the first time Arctic Cat as a manufacturer has been present on Safari. Taking on both the 2012 Silver City 1000 rally and the Australasian Safari it is expected that this year will be a development year for the Wildcat here in Australia with the plans to have the “Cat” show its fangs in the 2013 rally racing season.
Arctic Cat (NASDAQ: ACAT) is a North American manufacturer of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. The company was formed in 1960 and is based in Thief River Falls Minnesota.
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