MINI ANNOUNCES ITS DRIVER LINE-UP FOR THE 2017 DAKAR RALLY
MINI has released its driver line-up for the Dakar Rally and for the first time an American will be competing with the team at Dakar. Bryce Menzies has already raced with MINI ALL4 Racing finishing top five in each outing. However this will be his first attempt at Dakar. The other big name will be former WRC driver Mikko Hirvonen of Finland.
The car itself will be an evolution of the previous Countryman under the skin and completely new on the exterior. As yo’d expect it will be based on the new 2017 Countryman with a number of aero improvements expected.
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Official Release: Often described as the “mother of all rally races” the Dakar Rally is, without doubt, the most arduous and demanding automotive race in the world of motorsport. Participation in the Dakar Rally involves months of planning by the teams, the very best of drivers, co-drivers and support crews and, of course, their weapons of choice – with the MINI ALL4 Racing it is a proven, reliable performer that has claimed four consecutive Dakar wins (2012-2015) and four consecutive FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup titles (2012-2015). Lady luck, experience and respect for the terrain the competitors will cover are also major players on the final outcome of this two-week off-road racing spectacle.
MINI and its motorsport partner X-raid are pleased to reveal eight crews to participate in the 2017 Dakar Rally at the controls of MINI rally cars. Three of these crews will compete under the banner of X-raid Team.
Spearheading the X-raid assault to gain MINI its fifth Dakar title are three crews made up of varying Dakar experience but all with excellent rallying pedigrees.
Mikko Hirvonen (FIN), former WRC specialist contested his first Dakar in 2016 and took a stage win plus numerous top five in-stage finishes on his way to a remarkable fourth place result to earn him the title of Best Rookie. The experienced Michel Périn (FRA) was Hirvonen’s co-pilot for last year’s Dakar and the 2017 Dakar will see a repeat of this connection.
Mehr hier:
http://www.motoringfile.com/20…icipate-2017-dakar-rally/
Kann mir nicht vorstellen, das die mit "completely new ... exterieur" tatsächlich schon den F60 ansprechen. 
Ich bin gespannt. 