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2013-03-11 13:59:13 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

2013 Rally Guanajuato Mexico - Highlights
Overall after SS23:
1. Ogier (VOLKSWAGEN) 4 : 30 : 27.0
2. Hirvonen (CITROËN) 4 : 33 : 55.9
3. Neuville (FORD) 4 : 34 : 50.8
4. Sordo (CITROËN) 4 : 36 : 33.7
5. Al-Attiyah (FORD) 4 : 34 : 50.8
6. Atkinson (CITROËN) 4 : 41 : 55.0 (-3 : 30)
7. Block (FORD) 4 : 42 : 15.3
8. Guerra jr. (CITROËN) 4 : 43 : 16.8
9. Prokop (FORD) 4 : 44 : 56.0
10. Novikov (FORD) 4 : 47 : 42.3

2013-03-05 16:06:34 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 10 +1s)

Dakar feeling for the chosen few.

A good month and a half after winning the Rally Dakar, MINI is launching the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Racing Dakar Winner 2013 – in a seriously limited edition.

(Via MINI Motorsport) It is the dream of every +MINI fan: to own a MINI that is so exclusive there are but a few identical models in the world. A special edition brimming with power and boasting a striking design that is guaranteed to turn people’s heads on the street. A MINI with a story. A success story – at the toughest endurance rally in the world. The Dakar Rally. Having claimed overall victory this January, MINI will present the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 Racing Dakar Winner 2013 at the Geneva International Motor Show (7th  to 17th  March). A special edition for the French market, with a very limited number of models available.
Peter... more »

2013-02-11 14:54:48 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 8 +1s)

2013 Rally Sweden - Highlights
Overall after SS22:
1. Ogier (VOLKSWAGEN) 3 : 11 : 41.9
2. Loeb (CITROËN) 3 : 12 : 23.7
3. Østberg (FORD) 3 : 13 : 06.4 (-0 : 20)
4. Latvala (VOLKSWAGEN) 3 : 13 : 12.5
5. Neuville (FORD) 3 : 16 : 48.3
6. Hänninen (FORD) 3 : 17 : 25.0
7. Prokop (FORD) 3 : 23 : 07.3
8. Solberg H. (FORD) 3 : 23 : 24.6 (-4 : 20)
9. Novikov (FORD) 3 : 24 : 46.6
10. Al-Rajhi (FORD) 3 : 28 : 08.9

2013-02-07 17:20:35 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 11 +1s)

Hot MINI action in freezing temperatures.

Michal Kościuszko and Jarkko Nikara are flying the flag for +MINI at the icy 2013 Rally Sweden, while a rally great was on hand to offer advice to Michal during his preparations.

(Via MINI Motorsport) Bone-shaking cold, ice and snow on the special stages around the Service Park in Hagfors: this year’s Rally Sweden will once again take place under extreme conditions and will thus pose a stiff challenge to the WRC drivers and teams, with 22 special stages and 339 kilometres against the clock. Despite the adverse conditions, the Rally Sweden remains hugely popular amongst spectators. Hundreds of thousands of fans are once again expected to line the frosty route, all desperate not to miss the scintillating action at the second round of the 2013 WRC season.

MINI fans also have every reason to look forward to the Rally Sweden.Th... more »

2013-01-21 15:31:37 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

2013 Rallye Monte-Carlo - Day 4 Highlights
Overall after SS16:
1. Loeb (CITROËN) 5 : 18 : 57.2
2. Ogier (VOLKSWAGEN) 5 : 20 : 37.1
3. Sordo (CITROËN) 5 : 22 : 46.2
4. Hirvonen (CITROËN) 5 : 24 : 23.5
5. Bouffier (CITROËN) 5 : 27 : 10.3
6. Østberg (FORD) 5 : 31 : 00.9 (-1 : 50)
7. Proko (FORD) 5 : 42 : 24.5 (-1 : 00)
8. Wiegand (ŠKODA) 5 : 48 : 31.7
9. Burri (PEUGEOT) 5 : 54 : 35.4
10. Kosciuszko (MINI) 5 : 55 : 25.2
Night of Turini - 2013 WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo - Best-of-RallyLive.com

2013-01-21 22:28:04 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Peterhansel: "The victory is unique".

Stéphane Peterhansel in his MINI ALL4 Racing claims his 11th Dakar title. Find the best photos and quotes from the finish line in Santiago de Chile here.

(Via MINI Motorsport) Stéphane Peterhansel (P1 in the green +MINI ALL4 Racing): “It’s just incredible that we really succeeded in defending the title. We had to battle it out with numerous extremely competitive opponents but in the end, we were the ones who secured the win. Just as it was the case last year, the MINI ALL4 Racing ran perfectly. I have to thank the entire team that did a fantastic job – and not only during the past two weeks. Again, it was a thrilling Dakar Rally and the victory is unique although I have contested the Dakar for so many times. How the rally would end, was left open until the ninth leg. The X-raid Team needed to be patient for quitesome ti... more »

2013-01-19 23:03:34 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 15 Highlights

19 January 2013
Stage: 14
Start/Finish: La Serena/Santiago de Chile
Total length (km): 630
Competitive Kilometres: 128
Liaison (km): 502


The Rally Dakar ends with the arrival in the Chilean capital. Although the finish is within touching distance, the drivers must still remain fully focussed. The remaining 128 kilometres of special stage are on flat terrain, resulting in high speeds. A show circuit awaits at the finish, giving spectators a final opportunity to check out the participants before they attend the following day’s closing ceremony and the new Dakar champion is crowned.

2013-01-19 23:10:30 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Peterhansel wins the 2013 Dakar in a MINI.

After his victory at the 2012 Dakar, record winner Stéphane Peterhansel again emerges from the toughest rally in the world as the number one in his +MINI ALL4 Racing.

(Via MINI Motorsport) Nothing and nobody could stop Stéphane Peterhansel. Not the difficult dune sections that really put the competitors at the 2013 Rally Dakar to the test shortly after the start in Lima. Not the majestic Andes, whose gigantic heights the rally crossed not once but twice this year. Not the relentless heat of the Atacama Desert, which has not experienced a single drop of rain in living memory. And not the strong opposition from 151 participants in this year’s car class, all of whom had to be taken seriously. On the 15th day of the Dakar, and over 8,000 kilometres since the start in the capital of Peru, it was finally confirmed: the winner of the 2013Rall... more »

2013-01-19 01:27:49 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 14 Highlights

18 January 2013
Stage: 13
Start/Finish: Copiapó/La Serena
Total length (km): 735
Competitive Kilometres: 441
Liaison (km): 294


The penultimate day of the 2013 Rally Dakar will most probably start in thick fog, known by the locals as “Camanchaca”. As soon as clear visibility returns, the competitors are greeted by the Dakar’s final dune fields, which stretch out for over a third of the special stage. They are followed by open sections, which look like easy pickings. However, large stones can easily result in punctures, which can shatter any Dakar dreams in the final metres.

2013-01-19 01:27:25 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Finish within reach.

Stéphane Peterhansel is on the cusp of his eleventh Dakar Rally victory. On the penultimate stage the Frenchman drove consistently in the MINI ALL4 Racing.

(Via MINI Motorsport) With the final stretch of the 2013 Dakar Rally now well within sight, Stéphane Peterhansel is not to be stopped. On the penultimate stage, running from Copiapó to La Serena in Chile, the Frenchman in the green +MINI ALL4 Racing maintained the gap to his closest challengers - the pairing of De Villiers/Von Zitzewitz - who now lie approximately 45 minutes in arrears.

However, despite his comfortable lead, the X-raid Team’s ten-time +Dakar - The Ultimate Rally Race winner did not for a moment relax on the thirteenth stage, particularly as the 441-kilometre stage’s extended dunes proved extremely challenging. Maximum concentration was demanded to prevent hitting thelarge r... more »

2013-01-19 20:42:18 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

2013 Rallye Monte-Carlo - Day 3 Highlights
Overall after SS13:
1. Loeb (CITROËN) 4 : 16 : 41.9
2. Ogier (VOLKSWAGEN) 4 : 18 : 29.3
3. Novikov (FORD) 4 : 20 : 01.8
4. Sordo (CITROËN) 4 : 20 : 03.5
5. Latvala (VOLKSWAGEN) 4 : 20 : 46.8
6. Hirvonen (CITROËN) 4 : 21 : 01.0
7. Hänninen (FORD) 4 : 21 : 57.4
8. Østberg (FORD) 4 : 23 : 00.1
9. Bouffier (CITROËN) 4 : 25 : 02.5
10. Proko (FORD) 4 : 35 : 30.7

2013-01-18 19:20:01 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 13 Highlights

17 January 2013
Stage: 12
Start/Finish: Fiambalá/Copiapó
Total length (km): 715
Competitive Kilometres: 319
Liaison (km): 396


After the detour into Argentina, the Rally Dakar returns to Chile. The Paso San Francisco takes the drivers and teams back to an altitude of 4,700 metres as they cross the Andes into the Atacama Desert. Halfway through the stage the participants are once again faced with vast dune fields. The terrain then becomes rugged and stony again on the run-in to the stage finish in Copiapó.
Stage 12 - Truck/Quad - Stage Summary (Fiambalá - Copiapó)

2013-01-17 20:50:33 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

With ease through the Andes.

Stéphane Peterhansel in the +MINI ALL4 Racing defends his lead on the twelfth stage of the 2013 Dakar Rally to take a step closer to his eleventh overall victory.

(Via MINI Motorsport) This year’s Dakar Rally has finally moved into its crucial stage, with Saturday deciding the winner of the world’s toughest rally. However, two stages totalling 596 competitive kilometres still remain to be mastered. On Thursday Stéphane Peterhansel, driving the green MINI ALL4 Racing, moved yet another step towards clinching his eleventh career Dakar victory.

The thirteenth day of the rally led the competitors back into Chile from Argentina via a route totalling 715 kilometres between Fiambalá and Copiapó, with 319km making up the day’s competitive section. After Wednesday’s stage was curtailed after torrential flooding forced the stage to bescored as a... more »

2013-01-17 19:55:28 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 8 +1s)

2013 Rallye Monte-Carlo - Day 2 Highlights
Overall after SS10:
1. Loeb (CITROËN) 3 : 16 : 29.1
2. Ogier (VOLKSWAGEN) 3 : 18 : 04.1
3. Sordo (CITROËN) 3 : 19 : 07.1
4. Novikov (FORD) 3 : 19 : 22.3
5. Hirvonen (CITROËN) 3 : 19 : 51.8
6. Latvala (VOLKSWAGEN) 3 : 20 : 12.3
7. Hänninen (FORD) 3 : 20 : 40.4
8. Bouffier (CITROËN) 3 : 22 : 14.5
9. Østberg (FORD) 3 : 22 : 18.1
10. Proko (FORD) 3 : 30 : 44.7

2013-01-17 15:19:03 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Dakar: The Role of the MINI Countryman

For some, the fact that the MINIs racing in Dakar are purpose-built racing cars as opposed to modified street cars sticks in their craw. I won’t attempt to explain how racing works for the bajillionth time, but for those who want to see the standard R60 participating in the Dakar, there are several Countryman involved in the race as support vehicles.

(Via MotoringFile) Official news from MINI: The first all-wheel-drive +MINI rises to the challenge of the world’s most gruelling rally – close-to-production support vehicles assist the Monster Energy X-raid Team, headed by last year’s winner Stéphane Peterhansel, in the MINI ALL4 Racing as they clock up 8,600 kilometres en route to a second consecutive title.

The route to defending the crown runs across gravel tracks, sand dunes, rocks and ice, through drought, heat,rarefied... more »

2013-01-17 20:12:10 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 12 Highlights

16 January 2013
Stage: 11
Start/Finish: La Rioja/Fiambalá
Total length (km): 481
Competitive Kilometres: 219
Liaison (km): 262


The 2013 Dakar returns to the scene of last year’s event. The white sand dunes around Fiambalá are a real highlight for spectators. For the drivers, however, they can quickly become a nightmare. Engines can overheat on this ruthless terrain, cars can easily become stuck in the sand, or competitors can stray confused into the dune landscape. One thing is certain: the route around Fiambalá is always good for some action.
Stage 10/11 - Truck/Quad - Stage Summary (Cordoba - Fiambala)

2013-01-16 20:48:05 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

MINI drivers keep their nerves.

Until the eleventh stage was stopped due to torrential rain it was full steam ahead for Stéphane Peterhansel and Nani Roma despite the challenges of the stage.

(Via MINI Motorsport) After a comparatively easy run on the tenth stage of the 2013 Dakar Rally on Tuesday, Wednesday brought with it sterner challenges for the drivers: The tough stage between La Rioja to Fiambalá in Argentina.

After a 256-kilometre link section, the remaining 96 competitors contesting the world’s toughest rally faced a timed stage totalling 219 kilometres. Sandy dunes near Fiambalá provided a thrilling spectacle for the crowds, although numerous drivers experienced difficulty with the extremely fine surface.

Overall leader Stéphane Peterhansel, driving the green +MINI ALL4 Racing, superbly mastered these challenges, the Frenchman managing tokeep h... more »

2013-01-16 20:19:10 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

2013 Rallye Monte-Carlo - Day 1 Highlights
Overall after SS4:
1. Loeb (CITROËN) 1 : 39 : 49.0
2. Ogier (VOLKSWAGEN) 1 : 41 : 09.3
3. Hirvonen (CITROËN) 1 : 41 : 35.7
4. Sordo (CITROËN) 1 : 41 : 50.2
5. Latvala (VOLKSWAGEN) 1 : 42 : 21.2
6. Novikov (FORD) 1 : 42 : 39.6
7. Østberg (FORD) 1 : 42 : 44.1
8. Bouffier (CITROËN) 1 : 42 : 46.1
9. Hänninen (FORD) 1 : 42 : 52.5
10. Proko (FORD) 1 : 46 : 00.3

2013-01-16 15:58:18 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

MINI is back where it made history.

+MINI is once again represented in the FIA WRC in 2013. Michal Kościuszko is making his debut in the MINI John Cooper Works WRC for the Lotos WRC Team at the legendary Rally Monte Carlo.

(Via MINI Motorsport) As in 2012, this year’s WRC season kicks off with the prestigious Rally Monte Carlo. Its history dates back to 1911 and many regard the Monte as the mother of rallying as we know it today. Rally fans from around the world put on a huge party and turn night into day with Bengal fireworks as the drivers brave the darkness to cross the Col de Turini, with its steep passes and perilous hairpins.

Michal Kościuszko could hardly have chosen a more impressive stage, on which to make his debut in the MINI John Cooper Works WRC. Especially as the Monte is of such huge historic significance to the MINI brand. MINI fans still look backfon... more »

2013-01-17 20:11:58 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 11 Highlights

15 January 2013
Stage: 10
Start/Finish: Córdoba/La Rioja
Total length (km): 632
Competitive Kilometres: 353
Liaison (km): 279


Variety is the name of the game on stage ten. Winding forest roads give way to sparse sections over stony plateaus. The speeds vary accordingly, with drivers reaching top speeds on the open passages. When the competitors reach the stage finish, they have completed two thirds of this year’s Dakar.

2013-01-15 20:58:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Peterhansel extends his lead.

His biggest opponent may have dropped out, but it is still a case of full steam ahead for ten-time Dakar winner Stéphane Peterhansel in the +MINI ALL4 Racing on the 2013 Dakar Rally.

(Via MINI Motorsport) Stéphane Peterhansel in the green MINI ALL4 Racing continues to have a firm hold on the 2013 Dakar Rally, with the ten-time Dakar winner extending his overall lead on the world’s toughest rally by finishing third on the 10th  stage from Córdoba to La Rioja in Argentina.

Although his biggest opponent Nasser Al-Attiyah dropped out of the order on the previous day after suffering technical problem -  thus handing second place to De Villiers/von Zitzewitz - Stéphane did not grant himself a single moment of relaxation, even managing to extend his lead on the 353-kilometre timed stage.

However, the Frenchman was certainlyforced to ... more »

2013-01-15 19:08:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 10 Highlights

14 January 2013
Stage: 9
Start/Finish: San Miguel de Tucumán/Córdoba
Total length (km): 852
Competitive Kilometres: 593
Liaison (km): 259


The first stage back after the rest day is also the longest on the 2013 Rally Dakar. Not only that, but it is technically demanding too. Parts of the route through the so-called “Heart of Argentina” lead along winding forest tracks. Caution is the byword in this region. Anyone who comes unstuck here is on his own, as there is no way through here for assistance trucks.
Stage 7/8/9 - Truck/Quad - Stage Summary (Tucuman - Cordoba)

2013-01-15 00:30:19 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Good start as the going heats up.

After a turbulent end to the first Dakar week, the X-raid Team made a promising start as the Dakar enters its decisive stage.

(Via MINI Motorsport) Stéphane Peterhansel, driving the green +MINI ALL4 Racing, and team-mates Nani Roma and Leonid Novitskiy returned to Dakar action visibly relaxed after the event’s Rest Day. Where Saturday’s stage was neutralised after heavy storms made the going unsafe, for the overall leader everything ran to plan.

After the Dakar organisers adjusted the times for Saturday’s stage, Stéphane was declared leader with an advantage of 3:14 minutes over Nasser Al-Attiyah, who started the day in second place. Immediately ten-time Dakar winner Stéphane turned in competitive sector times; Al-Attiyah, though, seldom featured in the top ten on the sector times, was forced to make numerous stops and lostquite so... more »

2013-01-13 00:09:59 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 8 Highlights

12 January 2013
Stage: 8
Start/Finish: Salta/San Miguel de Tucumán
Total length (km): 849
Competitive Kilometres: 470
Liaison (km): 379


The drivers could be forgiven for believing they are in a western in the first section of the final stage before the rest day. The dry, red-dust route is lined by cacti and leads the competitors through rocky canyons. The second section is new to the Dakar. The sand is back here, in a region renowned for its strong winds and high temperatures.

2013-01-13 00:09:20 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Overall lead washed away?

Shortly before the finish of the eighth stage the final competitive section was neutralised due to heavy rain. The decision is likely to affect Stéphane Peterhansel in the +MINI the most.

(Via MINI Motorsport) The end so near, yet so far: that was the bitter motto of the eighth Dakar stage. On Saturday morning the teams and drivers faced 849 kilometres to the finish of the day’s stage in San Miguel de Tucumán, where the Dakar entourage would be rewarded with a well-earned rest day on Sunday. However, torrential rainfall on Saturday morning forced the +Dakar - The Ultimate Rally Race organisers to completely cancel the first half of the two-part stage. The start was then moved to the second check-point of the stage, 288 kilometres from the original start.

To enable the competitors to reach the revised start, the start was postponed by fourhou... more »

2013-01-11 22:39:12 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 7 Highlights

11 January 2013
Stage: 7
Start/Finish: Calama/Salta
Total length (km): 754
Competitive Kilometres: 155
Liaison (km): 534

The teams and drivers cross the border between Chile and Argentina and head into the Andes on day seven. The highlight: the highest mountain pass in Argentina, reaching a sensational height of 4,975 metres. Never before has the Dakar taken its competitors to such a high altitude. The altitude has a negative effect on the engine performance and the cars’ speed. Despite not hitting top speeds, this Andes stage is one of the highlights of the 2013 Dakar.

2013-01-11 22:11:29 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Sprint to Argentina.

With top speeds of up to 180 km/h, the Dakar caravan rolled into Argentina on day seven. Stéphane Peterhansel was among the pacesetters and increased his overall lead.

(Via MINI Motorsport) Who would have thought it? Despite the performance handicap brought about by the new regulations, Stéphane Peterhansel in the MINI ALL4 Racing more than held his own against the more fancied buggies on the sprint route to Salta. Although his +MINI is about 500 kilograms lighter and the engine generates more than 100 hp less, the ten-time Dakar champion defied his closest rival for the overall lead, refusing to simply roll over and accept the buggy’s greater performance.

Nasser Al-Attiyah may have taken advantage of the dead straight route across the border from Chile to Argentina to clock some remarkable split times, but the route became more challengingaga... more »

2013-01-11 22:10:29 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Dust, Dunes and Drama.

Nothing for the faint-hearted when the 2013 Dakar Rally action kicked off in Lima, Peru. Watch this video with the most stunning images from behind the scenes of the X-raid Team and its +MINI ALL4 Racings.

2013-01-11 18:36:42 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

On The Road Again

‘Ciao a tutti Bruno here,

‘Yes, WRC season’s about to start up again and I’m back to let you know what Motorsport Italia’s up to this season, starting with Rallye Monte-Carlo.

(Via Motorsport Italia) ‘Our first piece of exciting news is that Polish driver Michał Kościuszko and co-driver Maciek Szczepaniak are joining Motorsport Italia this year to tackle the WRC in a +MINI John Cooper Works Countryman WRC. They’ve been running with our sister team Ralliart Italy for the last two seasons, but now will compete for Lotos WRC Team on all thirteen events starting in Monte Carlo next week. For a sneak preview of their new livery / overalls, please see below.
General view – Press Kit Kosciuszko 2013
http://www.motorsport-italia.com/white_car_1.jpg
Racing Suit – Press Kit Kosciuszko 2013http://www.motors... more »

2013-01-11 22:24:12 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 6 Highlights

10 January 2013
Stage: 6
Start/Finish: Arica/Calama
Total length (km): 767
Competitive Kilometres: 454
Liaison (km): 313


The first full stage in Chile takes the competitors into the infamous Atacama Desert – the driest region on earth and one hundred times dryer than Death Valley in California. Sand and dunes dominate two thirds of the special stage. If that is not enough, the drivers are faced with sections through the perilous “fesh fesh” – a type of quick sand that can soon bring a drive to an end.
Stage 5/6 - Truck/Quad - Stage Summary (Arica Calama)

2013-01-10 22:21:53 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Not for weak nerves.

Nasser Al-Attiyah enjoys a stunning day at the 2013 Dakar, but Stéphane Peterhansel successfully fended off the attacks of the Buggy driver in his +MINI ALL4 Racing.

(Via MINI Motorsport) It could hardly get any more exciting. Thursday was a flawless day for Stéphane Peterhansel’s closest rival for the overall lead at the 2013 Dakar Rally. Nasser Al-Attiyah set the fastest time on each section of the sixth leg to secure the stage win. In doing so he gradually ate into Stéphane’s lead in the overall classification until it was down to just 45 seconds shortly before the end of the stage. Then came the final sprint! Everyone in the X-raid Team held their breath as they waited to see who would start day seven of the +Dakar - The Ultimate Rally Race leading the car competition.

Then the final times flashed up onto the monitor, and the winnerwas: S... more »

2013-01-10 01:00:10 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 5 Highlights

9 January 2013
Stage: 5
Start/Finish: Arequipa/Arica
Total length (km): 509
Competitive Kilometres: 172
Liaison (km): 337


The Dakar circus crosses the border from Peru to Chile on its way to the stage finish in Arica. After many sandy sections on the opening four days, the route now gets more stony. The field must also cross a number of rivers flowing from the Andes towards the Pacific. There are fewer environmental features, which allow reliable orientation. More than ever, the co-driver must have an excellent command of his roadbook here.

2013-01-10 00:59:07 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

MINI Party in Chile.

Nani Roma and Stéphane Peterhansel on top form: one consistently clocked top times on stage five, while the other increased his lead in the overall standings to almost ten minutes.

(Via MINI Motorsport) The duel between Stéphane Peterhansel and Nasser Al-Attiyah for the lead at the 2013 Dakar Rally continues to provide plenty of thrills and spills. However, Nani Roma in the yellow +MINI ALL4 Racing also got in on the act on day five of the toughest rally in the world. The Spaniard clocked one fastest time after another on five of the six timed sectors of the 172-kilometre special stage, and is now breathing down the neck of his team-mate in the orange MINI, Leonid Novitskiy, in the overall standings. Having stormed through the leg between Arica and Calama, Nani is now just eight seconds behind Leonid in fourth place.

Nani showed that he is alsoa... more »

2013-01-11 22:23:26 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 4 Highlights

8 January 2013
Stage: 4
Start/Finish: Nasca/Arequipa
Total length (km): 489
Competitive Kilometres: 144
Liaison (km): 429


The biggest test in week one of the Dakar, which caught out even the best and most experienced Dakar veterans last year. One fine sandy dune is followed by another for over 20 kilometres. It is hard to make up much time here, but easy to lose a lot.
Stage 3 / Stage 4 - Truck/Quad - Stages Summary

2013-01-08 20:54:56 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Peterhansel defends his lead.

The most difficult stage of the 2013 Dakar Rally so far produced a thrilling duel for the overall lead between Stéphane Peterhansel and Nasser Al-Attiyah.

(Via MINI Motorsport) Dunes, dust and rocks: just as they were on the previous two legs, the competitors were once again given a stern test of their credentials on stage four of the 2013 Dakar. Where even the more experienced Dakar veterans struggled last year, Stéphane Peterhansel produced a nigh-on perfect display at the wheel of his green +MINI ALL4 Racing, as he successfully negotiated the perilous dunes between Nasca and Arequipa. The 288 kilometres of special stage saw the ten-time Dakar winner go head to head with his closest rival in the race for the overall lead, Nasser Al-Attiyah.

Stéphane started day four of the +Dakar - The Ultimate Rally Race in first place overall, witha ... more »

2013-01-08 22:02:40 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 3 Highlights

7 January 2013
Stage: 3
Start/Finish: Pisco/Nasca
Total length (km): 343
Competitive Kilometres: 243
Liaison (km): 100


Having started with two short stages, day three of the Dakar sees the timed kilometres hit three figures for the first time. The stages are also getting increasingly intense. An elongated sequence of dunes poses genuine challenges for the drivers and teams. After the dunes, the competitors can catch a quick breather as the route heads along the Pacific coast to Nasca, before the sand returns at the end of the day.

2013-01-07 21:06:49 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Lead 2.0

Stéphane Peterhansel in the +MINI ALL4 Racing took the lead of the 2013 Dakar Rally after his first place was reversed overnight.

(Via MINI Motorsport) Stéphane Peterhansel and the X-raid Team’s joy at assuming the lead after the second stage was short-lived. After a technical defect at a GPS control point, the organisers on Sunday evening reinstated Carlos Sainz as the overall leader after he unsuccessfully attempted to register at the control point due to the technical issue. With Sainz having slid down to 11th place after the second day, he was suddenly elevated back into the lead – with an advantage of 5:05 minutes over Stéphane, who was in second place now.

Thus a highly motivated Stéphane faced the start of the third +Dakar - The Ultimate Rally Race day, which took the field from Pisco to Nasca across difficult, loose sand dunes via a243-kil... more »

2013-01-07 01:55:38 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

2013-01-07 01:21:31 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 2 Highlights

6 January 2013
Stage: 2
Start/Finish: Pisco/Pisco
Total length (km): 327
Competitive Kilometres: 85
Liaison (km): 242


The first big test for many drivers and teams, as the route heads straight into the dunes around the city of Pisco. The vast sand plains are impressive, but perilous. A number of teams will reach for their shovels for the first time here, as they endeavour to free their vehicles from the sand. The engines will also feel the heat for the first time. There is no doubt about it: the Dakar has begun.

2013-01-07 17:08:13 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Peterhansel jumps to the top.

Stéphane Peterhansel has taken the overall lead of the 2013 Dakar Rally in impressive style. On the second stage he proved fastest.

(Via MINI Motorsport) The first test dispensed with bravura, instilling confidence for the upcoming tests: After the second Dakar test Stéphane Peterhansel and the X-raid Team have gained momentum for the difficult and challenging tasks ahead. Following a short test on Saturday, the running order of the field was comprehensively reshuffled by the challenging second stage.

Over approximately 240 kilometres of competitive section Stéphane in the green +MINI ALL4 Racing certainly demonstrated the full spectrum of his skills. The record-setting Dakar winner and defending champion took the lead in the third section of the stage – one characterised by extended dune ranges - before stretching it to 2:30minutes... more »

2013-01-11 22:27:12 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

2013 Dakar - Day 1 Highlights

5 January 2013
Stage: 1
Start/Finish: Lima/Pisco
Total length (km): 263
Competitive Kilometres: 13
Liaison (km): 250


After the official start of the 2013 Rally Dakar in the Peruvian capital Lima, which hosted the finish of last year’s Rally Dakar, the competitors first head out on a link passage south along the Pacific to Pisco. A short warm-up stage of just 13 kilometres awaits the field in the hinterland behind the small port. The times set over this stage will determine the first standings.
Stage 1 - Truck/Quad - Stage Summary (Lima Pisco)

2013-01-06 00:09:44 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Sprint start: All or nothing?

Four +MINI ALL4 Racings in the top ten after the first stage of the 2013 Dakar Rally. Reigning champion Stéphane Peterhansel is the best-placed MINI driver in sixth place.

(Via MINI Motorsport) The 2013 Dakar Rally has started. After a ceremonial start in Peru’s capital city Lima, the competitors faced a liaison section of around 250 kilometres before they could really go full throttle. The subsequent, short 13 kilometre timed stage was more of a sprint, though, than the remaining 13 marathons sections which are still ahead of the competitors. Just three per cent of the total distance 8.574 kilometres has only been completed.

Fired up by thousands of Dakar fans, Stéphane Peterhansel headed the field of MINI ALL4 Racings entered by the X-raid Team to end the day with a 34 second deficit on leader Carlos Sainz. As times on theopening... more »

2013-01-04 15:24:16 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Set 2013 off with an adrenaline-fueled start! Watch MINI and all-around daredevil Guerlain Chicherit attempt a backflip in the steel playground of Lyon’s industrial port.
Jaws at the ready!

Enjoy the rush:

2013-01-04 15:24:06 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

X-raid Team ready to roll.

The X-raid Team is ready to defend its title. From Saturday on, Stéphane Peterhansel and his team-mates in the +MINI ALL4 Racing will be in the hunt for the 2013 Dakar crown.

(Via MINI Motorsport) Ollanta Humala politely shook record Dakar winner Stéphane Peterhansel’s hand at the opening of the paddock, but the Peruvian president did show signs of nerves ahead of the start of the toughest rally in the world on Saturday. After all, the Dakar is starting in his country for the first time, and the tension is rising every minute. The teams have pitched their tents and set up the so-called “Dakar Village” on a 15,000 m² area in Lima. Here, in the capital of Peru, the vehicles are being prepared for Saturday’s start. From 08:00 local time (CET -6 hours), the cars, trucks, bikes and quads will roll over the official start ramp on the PlayaMagdalena,... more »

2012-12-07 21:47:20 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Increase your +MINI's size with MINIPLEX

2012-12-07 19:02:23 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

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2012-12-03 18:27:12 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 7 +1s)

MINI ALL4 Racing in Dakar mood.

Stage set for the +MINI ALL4 Racing. Having dominated the 2012 Dakar, it now comes face to face with its biggest challenge once again: to master the toughest rally in the world.

(Via MINI Motorsport) The MINI ALL4 Racing is ready for the 35th Rally Dakar, which gets underway in Lima on 5th January 2013. Armed with new, high-visibility colours, a technical set-up modified by the X-raid Team, and a driving line-up that has already proven its Dakar credentials, the powerful “Desert MINI” will soon set off on the 8,574 kilometres that stand between it and the finish of the 2013 Dakar in Santiago de Chile.

Only in January will the teams discover exactly what challenges the 14 stages of the exhausting marathon journey across South America will throw up on a daily basis. One thing is already certain, however: the 2013 Dakar will be moreexcit... more »

2012-11-19 20:23:27 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

The countdown is on to the Dakar.

The X-raid Team lines up with a strong team and the tried-and-tested +MINI ALL4 Racing, as it looks to defend its title at the 2013 Rally Dakar.

(Via MINI Motorsport) Winning the Rally Dakar in January of this year was a milestone victory for the X-raid Team. When record-breaking champion Stéphane Peterhansel claimed the title in the MINI ALL4 Racing, it was also the first Dakar victory for Team Principal Sven Quandt’s outfit. The MINI ALL4 Racing also enjoyed a successful preparation for the 2012 Dakar, earning a reputation as a force to be reckoned with during the 2011 season.

This season, the X-raid Team will once again line up with the remarkable MINI ALL4 Racing. At the start of November, after the Baja Portalegre, Khalifa Al Mutaiwei celebrated another highlight when he won the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies: thiswas ... more »

2012-11-11 17:52:03 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

2012 Rally RACC Catalunya - Costa Daurada - Day 3 Highlights
Overall after SS18:
1. Loeb (CITROËN) 4 : 14 : 29.1
2. Latvala (FORD) 4 : 14 : 36.1
3. Hirvonen (CITROËN) 4 : 16 : 15.9
4. Østberg (FORD) 4 : 16 : 25.5
5. Nikara (MINI) 4 : 30 : 37.0
6. Breen (FORD) 4 : 32 : 39.5
7. Atkinson (MINI) 4 : 33 : 43.8
8. Andersson (PROTON) 4 : 34 : 45.2
9. Sordo (MINI) 4 : 40 : 09.7
10. Novikov (FORD) 4 : 40 : 15.7

2012-11-11 17:51:50 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

Spectacular season finale.

In rounding off the 2012 WRC season Dani Sordo once again proved the big potential of the +MINI WRC. On the final day of the Rallye Spain, Dani won four of six special stages.

(Via MINI Motorsport) The 13 rallies making up the 2012 WRC season have now been consigned to history. Once again world champion Sébastien Loeb proved unstoppable. In Spain the Frenchman took a perfect ninth win of the season while he will only contest selected WRC events next season. Meanwhile, Dani Sordo of the Prodrive WRC Team was once again responsible for several highlights during the season closer. Driving the number 52 MINI John Cooper Works WRC, the Spaniard flew through the first three stages of the final rally day to win all these stages in succession in front of his home crowd.

After placing second on the Powerstage, Dani gave it his all in spectacular... more »