Mini Cooper is getting more and more involved into the world of motorsport. with the Mini WRC rally car already in testing, German specialist X-Raid has revealed the Mini Countryman Dakar racer. Called the MINI All4 Racing, the Mini Countryman Dakar rally car will have its world debut at the 2011 Dakar Rally in South America.
The Mini Countryman Dakar All4 Racing was developed in collaboration with Magna-Steyr, Heggemann and Faster and will compete under the colors of the Monster Energy X-raid Team. The Mini Countryman Dakar will be driven by Guerlain Chicherit and co-driver Michel Périn in January’s 33rd Personal Dakar Argentina-Chile. The rally starts in Buenos Aires on New Year’s Day and finishes in the Argentine capital on Sunday, January 16th, 2011.
The Mini Countryman Dakar is powered by a variable twin-turbo diesel engine that is fitted to the 2011-specification BMW X3 CC that develops 315hp and 710Nm of torque. Compared to the BMW X3CC, the Mini Countryman Dakar will have improved handling and will be shorter and lower. The Mini Countryman Dakar benefits from larger air intakes, a one-piece bonnet and a revised and improved ventilation system using a front air intake and a roof intake. MINI All4 Racing is 10 cm shorter than the BMW X3 CC, about 3 cm lower than its predecessor and has a 10 cm reduced rear overhang when compared to the BMW. The Mini Countryman Dakar has a carbon-kevlar body.
