For the first time, MINI and the German X-raid Team are going to be racing two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles in the most demanding long-distance rally in the world, the Dakar Rally 2018. In addition to the all-wheel drive MINI John Cooper Works Rally, which, in its debut race, came in sixth place overall at the 2017 Dakar Rally, they will also be racing a rear-wheel drive MINI John Cooper Works Buggy.

The 40th edition of the world’s most demanding long-distance rally, which covers more than 8,000 kms over 14 stages through Peru, Bolivia and Argentina, begins on January 6, 2018 in Lima, Peru. MINI and X-raid are hoping to continue their success which has brought them four consecutive overall victories from 2012 to 2015.

“With these two cars we have the most powerful MINI family that ever raced at the Dakar Rally”, said Sebastian Mackensen, Senior Vice President of MINI. “This has been the biggest project in our company’s history so far and we have worked extremely hard at it.”

A second vehicle concept was developed because, within the Dakar Rally rules, two-wheel drive cars have certain advantages over all-wheel drive. X-raid Team Manager Sven Quandt gave the go-ahead for building the MINI John Cooper Works Buggy in February 2017.

The MINI John Cooper Works Rally and the MINI John Cooper Works Buggy both use a 3.0 litre inline 6-cylinder diesel engine which generates 340 hp and an impressive 590 lb-ft of torque. The transmission and drivetrain as well as the engine’s turbocharging technology, which is based on the BMW TwinPower Turbo, have been completely reworked for the 2018 rally.

The Buggy uses a specially designed tubular steel frame which provides maximum protection for driver and passenger in extreme situations. A specifically designed body made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) and Kevlar is stretched over the frame. The authentic buggy-look exterior has been designed in close cooperation with MINI Design and aerodynamically optimised. The Buggy has already undergone an intensive test programme over the past months which took it over different types of rally terrain for example in Hungary and Morocco.

“During this time the buggy never had to stop once due to a technical problem, which is really quite remarkable,” said team manager Sven Quandt. “Despite all the euphoria, we must definitely not forget the MINI John Cooper Works Rally. There are tracks and types of terrain where an all-wheel drive has advantages. What is more, our car is extremely reliable.”

The targeted advancements for the MINI John Cooper Works Rally, which Argentinian Orlando Terranove raced to sixth place in the overall rankings of the 2017 Dakar Rally, includes a new chassis construction featuring greater suspension travel and weight reductions.

The MINI and X-raid range for the Dakar Rally 2018 will comprise seven cars and an experienced team of drivers and co-pilots. The three MINI John Cooper Works Buggies will be piloted by Mikko Hirvonen (FIN), Bryce Menzies (USA) and Yazeed Al-Rajhi (KSA). The driver seats in the MINI John Cooper Works Rally will be occupied by Orlando Terranova (ARG), Jakub Przygonski (POL), Joan “Nani” Roma (ESP) and Boris Garafulic (CHI).

With this driver line-up and the crew of experienced organisers and technical and medical specialists, the X-raid Team will be perfectly equipped for the endurance ordeal awaiting man and machine at the 40th edition of the Dakar Rally. The anniversary edition of the long-distance rally, which is taking place in South America for the tenth time, will take the rally participants from Peru to Argentina via Bolivia. The 2018 Dakar Rally incorporates extended desert stages as well as rock and boulder fields and asphalt tracks which take the cars up to an altitude of 4000 meters in the Andes. The final stage will be completed on January 20, 2018 in Córdoba, Argentina.