The MINI ALL4 Racing
put all his strengths on display during the 2014 Dakar Rally’s fifth leg from Cilecito to Tucamán (both AR) on
Thursday. With Joan “Nani” Roma (ES) behind the wheel of the Monster Energy
X-raid Team’s yellow MINI ALL4 Racing, the car showed reliability as well as
its agility on a day that challenged all competitors to the most on a terrain
consisting of soft dune sands as well as typical off-road sections. Roma and
the MINI ALL4 Racing, which is based
on the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman
and modified by the Germany-based X-raid Team to excel in the tough Dakar
conditions, mastered it all.
While the organisers had to shorten the route by 99
kilometres, Roma remained focused on the goal not only to perform well during
the day but also to reclaim the overall Dakar lead from Carlos Sainz (ES) who
had taken it the previous day. When Roma reached the day’s finish line it was
mission accomplished for him as his competitors proved to be slower. “We had a
flawless run,” said Roma in Tucamán. “The conditions were very challenging but
our preparations paid off and the MINI ALL4 Racing was in tiptop shape. A good
day for us. Onto the next now.”
In addition to Roma’s second 2014 Dakar day victory, three
more MINI ALL4 Racing drivers were able to move up in the overall standings.
Nasser Al-Attiyah (QT) who finished the day in fifth is now second overall.
Third is Orlando Terranova (AR) after he pleased his home crowds while going
fourth for the day. And last but not least it was eleven-time Dakar winner
Stéphane Peterhansel (FR) who moved into fourth overall thus giving the X-raid
Team and the MINI brand a one-to-four in the overall rankings.
On day six the cars head north for the final leg before the
rest day on Saturday while the drivers cross some of Argentina’s most
attractive scenery on the iconic Routa 40. After that it is a well-deserved
one-day rest in Salta (AR). What tourists can enjoy is hard work for the Dakar
drivers however. The speed on this leg changes constantly, the roads are narrow
and rocks make the route become a tricky one.
Dakar Rally Day 6 Quick Facts.
Date: 10th January, 2014
Start/finish: Tucamán/Salta (both AR) – Leg 6
Official starting time (cars): 10.05 AM ART (UTC -3)
Total distance: 694 km, Special stage: 424 km, Liaison: 270
km
MINI at the 2014 Dakar Rally.
A total of eleven MINI ALL4 Racing compete in the 2014
Dakar. All are based on the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman, modified by the
factory-supported X-raid Team to meet the high demands of the Dakar Rally which
is today’s pinnacle of off-road motorsports. With a combination of power,
reliability and efficiency the MINI ALL4 Racing proved its competiveness right
from its first Dakar start in 2011 while also winning the hearts of the fans
from the word go.
On only its second Dakar appearance, the MINI ALL4 Racing
made the big breakthrough by winning the 2012 Dakar Rally. In 2013 the MINI
brand proved that its Dakar success was no flash in the pan by defending its
title at the first attempt. This year, the X-raid Team and the MINI brand are
aiming at clinching their third consecutive Dakar title when the 2014 Dakar
ends in Valparaiso, Chile, on 18th January.
2014 Dakar MINI Driver Lineup.
#300 MINI ALL4 Racing.
Monster Energy X-raid Team
Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret (FR/FR)
#301 MINI ALL4 Racing.
X-raid Team
Nasser Al-Attiyah/Lucas Cruz (QT/ES)
#304 MINI ALL4 Racing.
Monster Energy X-raid Team
Joan “Nani” Roma/Michel Périn (ES/FR)
#307 MINI ALL4 Racing.
Monster Energy X-raid Team
Orlando Terranova/Paulo Fiúza (AR/PT).
#309 MINI ALL4 Racing.
Monster Energy X-raid Team
Krzysztof Holowczyc/Konstantin Zhiltsov (PL/RU)
#314 MINI ALL4 Racing.
X-raid Team
Vladimir Vasilyev/Vitaliy Yevtyekhov (RU/RU)
#317 MINI ALL4 Racing.
X-raid Team
Boris Garafulic/Gilles Picard (CL/FR)
#319 MINI ALL4 Racing.
X-raid Team
Zhou Yong/Pan Hong Yu (CN/CN)
#330 MINI ALL4 Racing.
X-raid Team
Federico Villagra/Jorge Perez Companc (AR/AR)
#332 MINI ALL4 Racing.
X-raid Team.
Martin Kaczmarski/Filipe Palmeiro (PL/PT)
#337 MINI ALL4 Racing.
X-raid Team
Stephan Schott/Holm Schmidt (DE/DE)
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