(January 6, 2013) LIMA, Peru — The Monster Energy X-raid Team and its quartet of Mini ALL4 Racing cars are competing over the next two weeks in the 35th Rally Dakar, which got underway in Lima on Saturday. Every member of the X-raid team is determined to repeat the squad’s 2012 triumph.

Facing a more challenging route, different technical regulations, and even stronger opposition, the X-raid team has undertaken more pre-event testing than ever before.

This year’s rally route is anticipated to be the toughest ever held in South America, with competitors driving 4,970 miles through three countries (Peru, Argentina and Chile), during 14 days of action to reach the finish in Santiago. The overall route is far more intense than in previous years, and there will be no easy start for the four Mini ALL4 Racing machines as the first three days take place across challenging desert sand dunes.



The X-raid team won the Dakar Rally for the first time last year, with legendary super-star driver Stéphane Peterhansel taking victory at the wheel of a Mini ALL4 Racing machine.

For the 2013 event, the team’s driver line-up comprises 10-times winner Stéphane Peterhansel (French, age 47) and long-term co-driver, Jean-Paul Cottret. Behind the wheel of the the other three Mini vehicles will be driver, Joan ‘Nani’ Roma (Spanish, age 40) and co-driver, Michel Périn; Leonid Novitskiy (Russian, age 44) and Konstantin Zhiltsov; and Krzysztof Holowczyc (Polish, age 50) with Filipe Palmeiro.

In total, the X-raid team’s crew members have 20 years of Dakar Rally experience.

For the 2013 event, the Mini ALL4 Racing squad sports new, high-visibility colors, and technical upgrades to comply with new regulations while also enhancing pace and reliability. The new rear spoiler is designed to produce extra downforce, guide hot air from the engine bay over the roof and extract air from the cabin to improve ventilation.

The specially made dashboard displays the bare minimum of information in three parts: driver, center, and co-driver. For example, vital information, such as speed, oil pressure, temperatures and electronics information is displayed centrally — visible for both driver and co-driver. This center stack can be replaced (if necessary) in just three minutes, optimizing servicing times.

The twin-turbo diesel engine is a 2,993 cc power unit based on a BMW production engine and was built by BMW Motoren GmbH in Magna Steyr, Austria. The engine is designed to be used in endurance races under the toughest conditions, and generates over 300 horsepower at 3,250 rpm, with immense torque of almost 516 foot-pounds at just 2,100 rpm.

This enables the Mini ALL4 Racing to hit a top speed of 110 mph with all-wheel drive traction delivering sensational acceleration on all types of surface. The Mini ALL4 Racing is equipped with a Sadev six-speed, sequential manual gearbox and Xtrac differentials.